Qollavs  and 


99 
99 


WYCH  HAZEL 


SUSAN  AND  ANNA  ,WARNER 

AUTHORS    OF   'WIDE,    WIDE    WORLD,'   'QUEECHY,'    ETC.,    AN'l)     OF 

'  .X>LLARS   AND  CENTS,'  'MELODY   OF   THE   23rd  1'SALM,' 

ETC.,  ETC. 


Brown  as  a  nut,  and  sweeter  than  the  kernel."— SHAKBSPKAKE. 


NEW     YORK: 

G.    P.    PUTNAM'S    SONS. 

182    FIFTH   AVENUE. 

1876. 


COPYRIGHT, 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS. 
1876. 


7=* 

3/S5" 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  PALI; 

I. — MR.   FAI.KIRK            .                .  I 

II. — BEGINNING    OI'    A    1  AIRY    TALK  .                 .                                   .) 

111.— CORNER   OK    A    .VIAUECOA'  'II  lu 

IV. — FELLOW    TRAVELLER.'  21 

V. — IN    THE    KOG                .                 .  .                                                  "}G 

VI. — THE    RED   SOU1KKEL  43 

VII.— SMOKE           .                .  50 

VIII.— THE   MILL   FLOOR                   .  7J 

IX.— CATS               .                .  85 

X. — CHICKAREE                .  .              92 

XL— VIXEN            .  .            102 

XII. — AT   DOCTOR    MARYLAND'S  .                                  .            IIO 

XIII. — THE  GREY   COB         .  .130 

XIV.— HOLDING   COURT     ...  .            I.JI 

XV. — TO   MOSCHEI.OO                        .  •            '55 

XVI. — FISHING        .                                .  .1-0 

XVII.— ENCHANTED  GROUND           ...  .                            l8.J 

XVII I. — COURT   IN   THE  WOODS  .               .               •           '93 

XIX. — SELF-CONTROL         .  .211 

XX. — HOUQUETS                  .  .                .           225 

Hi 


1691481 


CONTENTS. 

CHAP.  f  .  .8 

XXI. — MOONSHINE  ...  .  239 

XXII. — A  REPORT  .....  255 

XXIII.— KITTY  FISHER  .....  267 

XXIV. — THE  LOSS  OK  AI.I.  THINGS  .  .  .  287 

XXV. — IN   THE   GERMAN    .....  299 

XXVI.— IN  THE  ROCK  AWAY  .  .-  .  .305 

XXVII.— THE  GERMAN  AT  OAK  HILL  .  .  315 

XXVIII.— BREAKFAST  FOR  THREE  .  .  336 

XXIX. — JEANNIE  DEANS  .  .  *.§ 

XXX.— THE  WILL  .  -_, 

XXXI.— WHOSE  WILL  ?  -8? 

xxxii.— CAPTAIN  LANCASTER'S  TEAM       .  .  -        395 

XXXIII.— HITS  AT  CROQUET  .  .  .  .410 

XXXIV.— FRIENDLY  TONGUES  .  .  .  -423 

XXXV.— FIGURES  AND  FAVOURS 


.  436 

WAY       . 
XXXVII.— IN  A  FOG 


XXXVI.— THE  RUNAWAY       ....  g 


•  463 

XXXVIII.— DODGING     . 

475 
XXXIX.— A  COTTON   MILL 

4«3 
XL.— SOMETHING    NEW 

497 

XLI. — A  LESSON    . 

S'3 
XLII. — STUDY 

525 


CHAPTER  I. 
MR.    F  A  i.  K  i  R  K  . 

"  We  may  shut  our  eyes,  but  we  cannot  help  knowing 
That  skies  are  clear  and  grass  is  growing-" 

WHKN  one  has  in  charge  a  treasure  which  one 
values  greatly,  and  which,  if  once  made  known 
one  is  pretty  sure  to  lose,  I  suppose  the  impulse  of 
most  men  would  be  towards  a  hiding-place.  So,  at  any 
rate,  felt  one  of  the  men  in  this  history.  Schools  had 
done  their  secluding  work  for  a  time  ;  tutors  and  gover- 
nors had  come  and  gone  under  an  almost  Carthusian 
vow  of  silence,  except  as  to  their  lessons  ;  and  now  with 
seventeen  years  of  inexperience  on  his  hands,  Mr.  P'al- 
kirk's  sensations  were  those  of  the  man  out  West,  who 
wanted  to  move  off  whenever  another  man  came  within 
twenty  miles  of  him. 

Thus,  in  the  forlorn  hope  of  a  retreat  which  yet  he 
knew  must  prove  useless,  Mr.  Falkirk  let  the  first 
March  winds  blow  him  out  of  town ;  and  at  this  present 
time  was  snugly  hid  away  in  a  remote  village  which  no- 
body ever  heard  of,  and  where  nobody  ever  came. 

So  far  so  good  :  Mr.  Falkirk  rested  and  took  breath. 
Nevertheless  the  spring  came,  even  there  ;  and  follow- 
ing close  in  her  train,  the  irrepressible  conflict.  Who- 
ever succeeded  in  running  away  from  his  duties — or  his 
difficulties  ?  There  was  a  flutter  of  young  life  within 
doors  as  without,  and  Mr.  Falkirk  knew  it :  th^  were 


2  WYCH    HAZEL. 

a  hundred  rills  of  music,  a  thousand  nameless  flowers 
to  which  he  could  not  close  his  senses.  There  was  a 
soft,  indefinable  stir  and  sweetness,  that  told  of  the 
breaking  of  Winter  bonds  and  the  coming  of  Summer 
glories  ;  and  he  could  not  stay  the  progress  of  things  in 
the  one  case  more  than  in  the  other. 

Mr.  Falkirk  had  always  taken  care  of  this  girl — the 
few  years  before  his  guardianship  were  too  dim  to  look 
back  to  much.  From  the  day  when  she,  a  suddenly 
orphaned  child,  stood  frightened  and  alone  among 
strangers,  and  he  came  in  and  took  her  on  his  knee, 
and  bade  her  "  be  a  woman,  and  be  brave."  That  was 
his  ideal  of  womanhood,  —  to  that  combination  of 
strength  and  weakness  he  had  tried  to  bring  Wych 
Hazel. 

Yet  though  she  had  grown  up  in  Mr.  Falkirk's  com- 
pany, she  never  thoroughly  understood  him :  nature 
and  circumstances  had  made  him  a  reserved  man, — and 
her  eyes  were  young.  Of  a  piece  with  his  reserve  was 
the  peculiar  fence  of  separation  which  he  built  up  be- 
tween all  his  own  concerns  and  those  of  his  ward.  He 
was  poor — she  had  a  more  than  ample  fortune ;  yet  no 
persuading  could  make  him  live  with  her.  Had  he 
been  rich,  perhaps  she  might  have  lived  with  him  ;  but 
as  it  was,  unless  when  lodgings  were  the  rule,  they 
lived  in  separate  houses ;  only  his  was  always  close  at 
hand.  Even  when  his  ward  was  a  little  child,  living  at 
Chickaree  with  her  nurses  and  housekeeper,  Mr.  Falkirk 
never  spent  a  night  in  the  house.  He  formally  bought 
and  paid  for  a  tiny  cottage  on  the  premises,  and  there 
he  lived  :  nothing  done  without  his  knowledge,  nothing 
undone^without  his  notice.  Not  a  creature  came  or 
went  cmperceived  by  Mr.  Falkirk.  And  yet  this  super 


MR.    FALKIRK.  3 

vision  was  generally  pleasant.  As  he  wrought,  nothing 
had  the  air  of  espionage — merely  of  care ;  and  so  I 
think,  Wych  Hazel  liked  it,  and  felt  all  the  more  free 
for  all  sorts  of  undertakings,  secured  against  conse- 
quences. Sometimes,  indeed,  his  quick  insight  was  so 
astonishing  to  the  young  mischief-maker,  that  she  was 
ready  to  cry  out  treachery ! — and  the  suspected  person 
in  this  case  was  always  Gotham.  Yet  when  she  charged 
upon  Gotham  some  untimely  frost  which  had  nipped 
her  budding  plans,  Gotham  always  replied — 

'  No,  Miss  'Azel.  I  trust  my  'onor  is  sufficient  in 
his  respect.' 

She  and  Gotham  had  a  singular  sort  of  league, — de- 
fensive of  Mr.  Falkirk,  offensive  towards  each  other. 
She  teased  him,  and  Gotham  bore  it  mastiff-wise  ;  shak- 
ing his  head,  and  wincing,  and  when  he  could  bear  it 
no  longer  going  off.  Wych  Hazel  ? — yes,  she  was  that. 

And  how  did  she  win  her  name  ?  Well,  in  the  first 
place,  "  the  nut-browne  mayd  "  and  she  were  near  of 
kin.  Bui  whether  her  parents,  as  they  looked  into  the 
baby's  clear  dark  eyes,  saw  there  anything  weird  or  elf- 
ish,— or  whether  the  name  'grew,' — of  that  there  re- 
mains no  record.  She  had  been  a  pretty  quiet  witch 
hitherto  ;  but  now — 

"  Once  git  a  scent  o'  musk  into  a  drawer, 
And  it  clings  hold,  like  precerdents  in  law!1 

— not  Mr.  Falkirk  could  get  it  out. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BEGINNING   A   FAIRY   TALE. 

TV   /T  R.  Falkirk,  I  must  go  and  seek  my  fortune  ! ' 

1V.L  Wych  Hazel  made  this  little  remark,  sitting 
on  a  low  seat  by  the  fire,  her  arms  crossed  over  her  lap. 

'  Wherefore  ? '  said  her  guardian. 

'  Because  I  want  to,  sir.  I  have  no  other  than  a 
woman's  reason.' 

'  The  most  potent  of  reasons ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 
'  The  rather,  because  while  professing  to  have  no  root 
it  hath  yet  a  dozen.  How  long  ago  did  Jack  show  his 
lantern,  my  deaf?' 

'  Lantern  ! '  said  the  girl,  rather  piqued, — adding, 
under  her  breath,  '  I'm  going  to  follow — Jack  or  no 
Jack  !  Why,  Mr.  Falkirk,  I  never  got  interested  a  bit 
in  a  fairy  tale,  till  I  came  to — "  And  so  they  set  out  to 
seek  their  fortune."  It's  my  belief  that  I  belong  in  a 
fairy  tale  somewhere.' 

'  Like  enough,'  said  her  guardian  shortly. 

'  So  you  see  it  all  fits,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  studying  her 
future  fortunes  in  the  fire. 

'What  fits?' 

'  My  going  to  seek  what  I  am  sure  to  find.' 

'That  will  ensure  your  missing  what  is  coming  tc 
find 


BEGINNING   A    FAIRY   TALE.  5 

•People  in  fairy  tales  never  wait  to  see  what  will 
come,  sir.' 

'  But,  my  dear,  there  is  a  difficulty  in  this  case.  Your 
fortune  is  made  already.' 

1  Provokingly  true,  sir.  But  after  all,  Mr.  Falkirk,  I 
was  not  thinking  of  money.' 

'  A  settlement,  eh  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  My  dear, 
when  the  prince  is  ready,  the  fairy  will  bring  him.' 

'  Now,  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  the  girl,  with  her  cheeks 
aglow,  '  you  know  perfectly  well  I  was  not  thinking  of 
that.' 

'  Will  you  please  to  specify  of  what  you  were  thinking, 
Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

Miss  Hazel  leaned  her  head  on  her  hand  and  reflected. 

'  I  don't  believe  I  can,  sir.  It  was  a  kind  of  indefinite 
fortune, — a  whole  windfall  of  queer  adventures  and  peo- 
ple and  things.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  at  this  turned  round  from  his  papers  and 
looked  at  the  girl.  It  was  a  pretty  vision  that  he  saw, 
and  he  regarded  it  somewhat  steadily ;  with  a  little 
break  of  the  line  of  the  lips  that  yet  was  not  merriment. 

'  My  dear,'  said  he  gravely,  '  such  birds  seldom  fly 
alone  in  a  high  wind.' 

'Well,  sir,  never  mind.  Could  you  be  ready  by 
Thursday,  Mr,  Falkirk  ? '  * 

'  For  what,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Dear  me  ! '  said  the  girl  with  a  soft  breath  of  impa- 
tience. '  To  set  out,  sir.  I  think  I  shall  go  then,  and  I 
wanted  to  know  if  I  am  to  have  the  pleasure  of  your 
company.' 

'  Do  /  look  like  a  fairy  tale  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

He  certainly  did  not !  A  keen  eye  for  practical  reali- 
ties, a  sober  good  sense  that  never  lost  its  foofhold  of 


6  WYCH    HAZEL. 

common  ground,  were  further  unaccompanied  by  the 
graces  and  charms  wherewith  fairy  tales  delight  to  deck 
their  favourites.  Besides  which,  Mr.  Falkirk  probably 
knew  what  his  fortune  was  already,  for  the  grey  was 
abundantly  mingled  with  the  brown  in  his  eyebrows  and 
hair.  However,  to  do  Miss  Hazel's  guardian  justice,  if 
his  face  was  not  gracious,  it  was  at  least  in  some  respects 
fine.  A  man  always  to  be  respected,  easily  to  be  loved, 
sat  there  at  the  table,  at  his  papers. 

As  for  the  little  '  nut-browne  mayd '  who  studied  des- 
tiny in  the  fire,  she  merely  glanced  up  at  him  in  answer 
to  this  appeal ;  and  with  a  shake  of  the  head  as  if  fairy 
tales  and  he  were  indeed  hopelessly  disconnected,  re- 
turned to  her  musings.  Then  suddenly  burst  forth — 

'  I  am  so  puzzled  about  the  colour  of  my  new  travel- 
ling dress  !  "  Contrasts,"  and  "  harmonies,"  and  all 
that  stuff,  belong  to  the  pink  and  white  people.  But 
pink  and  brown — Mr.  Falkirk,  do  you  suppose  I  can 
find  anything  browner  than  myself,  that  will  set  me  off, 
and  do  ? — I  can't  travel  in  gold  colour.' 

'  You  want  to  have  as  much  as  possible  the  effect 
of  a  picture  in  a  frame  ? ' 

'  Not  at  all,  sir.  That  is  just  what  I  want  to  avoid. 
The  dress  should  be  a.  part  of  the  picture.' 

'  I  don't  doubt  it  will  be  ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk  sighing. 
'  Before  you  set  out,  my  dear,  had  you  not  better  invest 
your  property  ?  so  that  you  could  live  upon  the  gath- 
ered interest  if  the  capital  should  fail.' 

'  I  thought  it  was  invested  ? '  said  the  girl,  looking  up. 

'  Only  a  part  of  it,'  replied  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Nothing 
but  your  money.' 

'  Nothing  but ! '  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Why  what  more 
have  I,  Mr.  Falkirk?' 


BEGINNING   OF   A   FAIRY   TALE.  7 

'A  young  life,' said  her  guardian, — 'a  young  and 
warm  heart, — good  looks,  an  excellent  constitution,  a 
head  and  hands  that  might  do  much.  To  which  I 
might  add, — an  imagination.' 

'  My  dear  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  the  girl  laughing,  '  I 
shall  want  them  all  to  pay  my  travelling  expenses.  All 
but  the  last — and  that  is  invested  already,  to  judge  by 
the  interest.' 

He  smiled,  a  shaded  smile,  such  as  he  often  wore 
when  she  danced  away  from  his  grave  suggestions. 
He  never  pursued  her.  But  when  she  added, 

'  After  all,  sir,  investments  are  your  affair,' — 

1  My  dear,'  he  said,  '  a  woman's  jewels  are  in  her 
own  keeping — unless  indeed  God  keep  them.  Yet  let 
her  remember  that  they  are  not  hers  to  have  and  to 
hold,  but  to  have  and  to  use ;  a  mere  life  interest — nor 
always  that.' 

And  then  for  a  while  silence  fell. 

'  Will  you  think  me  very  extravagant  if  I  get  a  new 
travelling  dress,  sir  ? '  the  girl  began  again. 

'  I  have  not  usually  been  the  guardian  of  your  ward- 
robe, Miss  Hazel.' 

'No, sir,  of  course  ;  but  I  wanted  your  opinion.  You 
gave  one  about  my  jewels.  And  by  the  way,  Mr.  Fai- 
kirk,  won't  you  just  tell  me  the  list  over  again  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  turned  round  and  bent  his  brows  upon 
Wych  Hazel  now,  but  without  speaking. 

'  Well,  sir  ? '  she  repeated,  looking  up  at  him,  '  what 
are  they,  if  you  please  ? ' 

'  Two  brilliants  of  the  first  water,'  replied  Mr.  Falkirk 
looking  down  into  her  eyes.  '  To  which  some  people 
add,  two  fine  bits  of  sardius.' 


8  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  And  which  some  people  say  are  set  in  bronze,' — 
said  the  young  lady,  but  with  a  pretty  little  laugh  and 
flush. 

'  Where  do  you  propose  the  search  should  begin  ? ' 
said  the  gentleman,  disregarding  this  display. 

'  At  Chickaree,  sir.  I  should  go  down  there  at  once, 
and  so  start  from  home  in  proper  style.' 

'  And  your  plan  of  operations  ? '  pursued  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk. 

'  Perfectly  simple,  sir.  Of  two  roads  I  should  always 
take  the  most  difficult,  and  so  on — ad  infinitum.' 

'  Perfectly  simple,  indeed,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Yet 
it  might  lead  to  a  complication.  I'm  afraid  it  would 
prove  a  Western  line  of  travel,  my  dear — end  in  a  squir- 
rel  track,  and  run  up  a  tree.' 

'  What  a  lookout  we  shall  have  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'But about  the  dress,  Mr.  Falkirk — you  know  my  last 
one  is  quite  new — and  I  do  so  want  another  ! ' 

'  Then  get  it,'  he  said  with  a  smile.  '  Though  I  am 
afraid,  my  dear,  it  is  hardly  in  keeping.  Quickear  be- 
gan the  search  in  rags,  and  Cinderella  in  ashes,  and 
the  "  Fair  one  with  the  golden  leeks  "  had,  I  think,  no 
other  adornment.  Puss  in  boots  was  indeed  new  rig- 
ged— but  Puss  was  only  a  deputy.  What  do  you  say 
to  sending  me  forth  in  boots,  to  seek  a  fortune  for  you  ? ' 

An  irrepressible  laugh  rippled  forth — sweet  and 
sound,  and,oh,so  heartwhole  ! 

'  Let  me  see,'  she  said ;  '  To-day  is  Monday.  To- 
morrow I  will  get  the  dress  and  distract  my  dressmaker. 
And  next  Monday  we  will  set  out,  and  take  Chickaree 
for  our  first  stage.  My  dear  Mr.  Falkirk — most  potent, 
grave,  and  reverend  sir, — if  you  sally  forth  as  Puss  in 


BEGINNING    OF   A    FAIRY    TALE.  9 

boots,  of  course  /  shall  at  once  turn  into  the  Marquis 
of  Carrabas,  which  would  not  suit  your  notions  at  all — 
confess  ! '  she  added,  locking  both  hands  round  his  arm, 
and  flashing  the  brilliants  before  his  eyes. 

'  Next  Monday  we  will  take  the  first  stage  for  Chick- 
aree,' said  Mr.  Falkirk  in  an  unmoved  manner.  '  How 
many  servants  in  your  train,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  None,  sir.  Mrs.  Bywank  is  there  already,  and  Mrs. 
Saddler  can  "  forward  "  me  "  with  care."  I'll  pick  up 
a  new  maid  by  the  way.' 

'  Will  you  pick  up  a  page  too  ?  or  does  Dingee  keep 
his  place  ? ' 

'  If  he  can  be  said  to  have  one.     O,  Dingee,  of  course.' 

'Wych  Hazel,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  from  under  his 
brows,  '  what  is  your  plan  ? — if  you  are  capable  of  such 
a  thing.' 

1  My  plan  is  to  unfold  my  capabilities,  sir, — for  your 
express  benefit,  Mr.  Falkirk.  We  will  beat  the  bush  in 
every  direction,  and  run  down  any  game  that  offers.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  turned  his  chair  half  away,  and  looked 
into  the  fire.  Then  slowly,  but  with  every  effect  of  ex- 
pression, he  repeated, — 

"  A  creature  bounced  from  the  bush, 
"  Which  made  them  all  to  lavgh, 

"  My  lord,"  he  cried,  "A  hare  !   a  hare  I  " 
"  But  it  proved  an  Essex  calf.  " 

1  Yes,'  said  Wych  Hazel  with  excellent  coolness, — 
'  men  do  make  such  little  mistakes,  occasionally.  But 
this  time  I  shall  be  along.  Good  night,  sir.' 


CHAPTER  III. 

COBNER  OF  A  STAGE  COACH. 

<  TV  /T  ISS  HAZEL  !— Dear  Miss  Hazel !— Dear  me, 

1.V -L  Miss  Hazel ! — here's  the  morning,  ma'am, — • 
and  Gotham,  and  Mr.  Falkirk  ! ' 

§o  far  the  young  eyes  unclosed  as  to  see  that  they 
could  see  nothing — unless  the  flame  of  a  wind-tossed 
candle, — then  with  a  disapproving  frown  they  closed 
again. 

'  But  Miss  Hazel  ? '  remonstrated  Mrs.  Saddler. 

'  Well  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel  with  closed  eyes. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk's  dressed,  ma'am.' 

'  What  is  it  to  me  if  Mr.  Falkirk  chooses  to  get  up  over 
night  ? ' 

'  But  the  stage,  ma'am  ! ' 

'  The  stage  can  wait.' 

'The  stage  won't,  Miss  Hazel,'  said  Mrs.  Saddler, 
earnestly.  '  And  Gotham  says  it's  only  a,  question  of 
time  whether  we  can  catch  it  now.' 

Something  in  these  last  words  had  an  arousing  power, 
for  the  girl  laughed  out. 

'  Mrs.  Saddler,  how  can  one  wake  up,  with  the  cer- 
tainty of  seeing  a  tallow  candle  ? ' 

'  Dear  me,'  said  Mrs.  Saddler  hurrying  to  light  two 
tall  sperms,  '  if  thafs  all,  Miss  Hazel — ' 


CORNER  OF  A  STAGE  COACH.  II 

1  That  is  not  all.  What's  the  matter  with  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk  this  morning  ? ' 

'  Why  nothing,  ma'am.  Only  he  said  you  wanted  to 
take  the  first  stage  for  Chickaree.' 

'Which  I  didn't,  and  don't.' 

'  And  Gotham  says,'  pursued  Mrs.  Saddler,  '  that  if  it 
is  the  first,  ma'am,  we'll  save  a  day  to  get  to  Chickaree 
on  Thursday.' 

Whereupon,  Wych  Hazel  sprung  at  once  into  a  state 
of  physical  and  mental  action  which  nearly  blew  Mrs. 
Saddler  away. 

'  Look,'  she  said,  tossing  the  curls  over  her  comb, — 
'  there's  my  new  travelling  dress  on  the  chair.' 

'  Another  new  travelling  dress  ! '  said  Mrs.  Saddler 
with  upraised  hands.  • 

'  And  the  hat  ribbands  match,'  said  Wych  Hazel, 
'  and  the  gloves.  And  the  veil  is  a  shade  lighter.  Every- 
thing matches  everything,  and  everything  matches  me. 
You  never  saw  my  match  before,  did  you  Mrs.  Saddler  ? ' 

'  Dear  me  !  Miss  Hazel,'  said  the  good  woman  again. 
1  You  do  talk  so  wonderful ! ' 

It  was  splendid  to  see  her  look  of  dismay,  and 
amusement,  and  admiration,  all  in  one,  and  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  other  face — fun  and  mischief  and  beauty, 
all  in  one  too !  To  put  on  the  new  dress,  to  fit  on  the 
new  gloves, — Wych  Hazel  went  down  to  Mr.  Falkirk  in 
admirable  spirits. 

Mr.  Falkirk  looked  gloomy.  As  indeed  anything 
might,  in  that  hall ;  with  the  front  door  standing  open, 
and  one  lamp  burning  till  clay  should  come  ;  and  the 
chill  air  streaming  in.  Mr.  Falkirk  paced  up  and  down 
with  the  air  of  a  man  prepared  for  the  worst.  He  shook 
Wych  Hazel  grimly  by  the  hand,  and  she  laughed  out, 


12  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  How  charming  it  is,  sir  ?  But  where's  breakfast  ? ' 

'  Breakfast,  Miss  Hazel,'  said  her  guardian  solemnly. 
'  is  never,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  taken  by  people  setting 
out  to  seek  their  fortune.  It  is  generally  supposed  that 
such  people  rarely  have  breakfast  at  all.' 

'  Very  well,  sir, — I  am  ready,' — and  in  another  minute 
they  were  on  their  way,  passing  through  the  street  of  the 
little  village,  and  then  out  on  the  open  road,  until  after 
a  half-hour's  drive  they  entered  another  small  settle- 
ment and  drew  up  before  its  chief  inn.  Bustle  enough 
here, — lamps  in  the  hall  and  on  the  steps ;  lamps  in  the 
parlours  ;  lamps  running  up  and  down  the  yards  and  road 
and  dimly  disclosing  the  outlines  of  a  thorough  bred  stage 
coach  and  four  horses,  with  the  various  figures  pertaining 
thereto.  Steadily  the  dawn  came  creeping  up  ;  the 
morning  air — raw  and  damp — floated  off  the  horses' 
tails,  and  flickered  the  lights,  and  even  handled  Wych 
Hazel's  new  veil.  I  think  nothing  but  the  new  travel- 
ling dress  kept  her  from  shivering,  as  they  went  up  the 
inn  steps.  People  seeking  their  fortunes  may  at  least 
want  their  breakfast. 

But  Mr.  Falkirk  was  perverse.  As  they  entered  the 
hall,  a  waiter  threw  open  the  door  into  the  long  break- 
fast room — delicious  with  its  fire  and  lights  and  coffee — 
(neither  did  the  voices  sound  ill),  but  Mr.  Falkirk 
stopped  short. 

'  Is  that  the  only  fire  you've  got  ?  I  want  breakfast 
in  a  private  room.' 

Now  Mr.  Falkirk's  tone  was  sometimes  one  that  no- 
body would  think  of  answering  in  words, — of  course, 
the  waiter  could  do  nothing  but  wheel  about  and  open 
another  door  next  to  the  first. 

'  Ah  ! '  Mr.  Falkirk  said  with  immense  satisfaction, 
as  they  stepped  in. 


CORNER  OF  A  STAGE  COACH.  13 

'  Ah  ! ' — repeated  his  ward  rather  mockingly.  '  Mr. 
Falkirk,  this  room  is  cold.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  took  the  poker  and  gave  the  fire  such  a 
punch  that  it  must  have  blazed  uninterruptedly  for  half 
a  day  after. 

'  Cold,  my  dear  ? '  he  said  beamingly — '  no  one  can 
be  cold  long  before  such  a  fire  as  that.  And  breakfast 
will  be  here  in  a  moment.  If  it  comes  before  I  get 
back,  my  dear,  don't  wait  for  me.  How  well  your  dress 
looks  ! ' 

'  And  I  ?— Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Why  that's  a  matter  of  taste,  my  dear,  of  course. 
Some  people  you  know  are  partial  to  black  eyes — which 
yours  are  not.  Others  again — Ah,  here  is  breakfast, — 
Now  my  dear,  eat  as  much  as  you  can, — you  know  we 
may  not  have  any  breakfast  to-morrow.  On  a  search 
after  fortune,  you  never  can  tell.' 

And  helping  her  to  an  extraordinary  quantity  of  every- 
thing on  the  tray,  Mr.  Falkirk  at  once  went  off  and 
left  her  to  dispose  of  it  all  alone.  And  of  course  he 
went  straight  into  the  next  room.  Didn't  she  know  he 
would  ? — and  didn't  she  hear  the  duo  that  greeted  him  ? 
— '  What,  Mr.  Falkirk  ! ' — '  Sir,  your  most  obedient ! ' — 
and  her  guardian's  double  reply — '  Back  again,  eh  ?  ' — 
and  '  Your  most  obedient,  Mr.  Kingsland.'  Wych  Hazel 
felt  provoked  enough  not  to  eat  another  mouthful. 
Then  up  came  the  stage,  rumbling  along  to  the  front 
door  ;  and  as  it  came,  in  rushed  Mr.  Falkirk,  poured 
out  a  cup  of  scalding  coffee  and  swallowed  it  without  a 
moment's  hesitation. 

'Coach,  sir  ! '  said  the  waiter  opening  the  door. 

'  Coach,  my  dear  ? '  repeated  her  guardian,  taking 
her  arm  and  whisking  her  down  the  hall  and  into  the 


I4  WYCH    HAZEL. 

stage,  before  the  passengers  in  the  long  room  could 
have  laid  down  their  knives. 

'  What  is  the  use  of  being  in  such  a  hurry,  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk  ? '  she  said  at  last ;  much  tried  at  being  tossed 
gently  into  the  stage  like  a  brown  parcel — (which  to  be 
sure  she  was,  but  that  made  no  difference). 

'My  dear,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  solemnly,  "there  is  a 
tide  in  the  affairs  of  men,  which  taken  at  the  flood,  leads 
on  to  fortune.'  " 

And  with  that  he  drew  off  his  glove,  leaned  back,  and 
passed  his  hand  over  his  brow  with  the  air  of  a  man  who 
had  in  some  shape  achieved  success. 

By  this  time  the  stream  of  passengers  began  to  pour 
forth  ;  and  the  coach  creaked  and  swung  to  and  fro,  as 
trunk  after  trunk  and  man  after  man  found  their  way  up 
to  the  roof.  Then  the  door  was  flung  open,  and  other 
passengers  tumbled  in,  the  lantern  flashing  dimly  upon 
their  faces  and  coats.  Three  and  three  more, — and 
another,  but  his  progress  was  stayed. 

'  Not  in  here,  sir,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  politely,  '  I  have 
paid  for  three  seats.' 

'  There  ain't  another  seat,'  says  the  driver, — and  he 
ain't  a  big  man,  sir — guess  maybe  you'll  let  him  have  a 
corner — we'll  make  it  all  right,  sir.'  He  had  a  corner, — 
and  so  did  our  heroine  !  The  new  dress  !  Never  mind  ; 
the  sooner  this  went  the  sooner  she  would  get  another. 
And  they  rolled  off,  sweetly  and  silently,  upon  the  coun- 
try road.  The  morning  was  lovely.  Light  scarfs  of 
fog  floated  about  the  mountain  tops,  light  veils  of  cloud 
just  mystified  the  sky  ;  the  tree-tops  glittered  with  dew, 
the  birds  flew  in  and  out ;  and  through  an  open  corner 
of  her  leathern  curtain  Wych  Hazel  peered  out,  gazing  at 
the  new  world  wherein  she  was  going  to  seek  her  fortune 


CORNER  OF  A  STAGE  COACH.  15 

'Spend  the  Summer  at  Chickaree,  Mr.  Falkirk?' 
said  a  voice  from  the  further  end  of  the  coach.  Wych 
Hazel  drew  in  her  head  and  her  attention,  and  sat  back 
to  listen. 

'  I  did  not  say  I  was  going  there,'  said  her  guardian 
dryly. 

'  Two  and  two  make  four,  my  good  sir.  There's  not 
even  a  sign  of  a  place  of  entertainment  between  Stone 
Bridge  and  Crocus,  and  Stone  Bridge  you  have  confessed 
to.' 

'  You  consider  places  of  entertainment  among  the 
essentials  then  ?' 

'Why,  in  some  cases,'  said  the  gentleman,  with  a 
suspicious  glance  at  Wych  Hazel's  brown  veil. 

'  How  long  is  it  since  you  were  there,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 
inquired  Mr.  Kingsland's  next  neighbour. 

This  speaker  was  a  younger  man  than  Mr.  Kingslancl, 
and  whereas  that  gentleman  was  a  dandy,  this  one's 
dress  was  just  one  remove  from  that,  and  therefore 
faultless.  About  his  face,  so  far  off  as  the  other  end  of 
the  stage,  there  seemed  nothing  remarkable ;  it  was 
grave,  rather  concise  in  its  indications  ;  but  the  voice 
prepared  you  for  what  the  smile  declared, — a  nature 
joyous  and  unembittered  ;  a  spirit  pure  and  honest  and 
keen.  Even  Wych  Hazel's  guardian  softened  at  his  look. 

'  Pray,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? '  said  the  other  stranger,  '  what  is 
supposed  to  be  the  origin  of  the  word  "  veil  "  ? ' 

'  I  never  heard,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  dryly.  '  Lost  in 
the  early  records  of  civilization.' 

'  My  dear  sir  ! — of  Barbarism  ! ' 

'  Civilization  has  never  entirely  got  rid  of  barbarism, 
I  believe,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  between  his  teeth  ;  then  out, 
'  By  what  road  are  you  going,  Rollo  ? ' 


X6  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  should  be  happy  to  act  as  guide,  sir.  I  leave  the 
direct  route.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  just  put  your  head 
a  little  this  way,  and  see  the  veil  of  mist  thrown  over 
the  top  of  that  hill,' 

Mr.  Falkirk  looked  hastily,  and  resumed  :  '  You  have 
lately  returned,  I  hear,  from  your  long  foreign  stay  ? ' 

'  It  was  time.' 

<  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  his  ward,  '  do  you  consider  that 
a  remnant  of  the  dark  ages  ? ' 

'  It  keeps  its  place  too  gracefully  for  that,'  said  her 
guardian  dropping  his  voice,  as  he  looked  across  Wych 
Hazel  out  of  the  coach  window. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  '  (sotto  voce),  '  you  are  charming  ! — 
Between  ourselves,  this  is  a  hard  place  to  keep  grace- 
fully. Please  take  out  your  watch,  sir.' 

Which  Mr.  Falkirk  did,  and  silently  showed  it.  Forth 
to  meet  his  came  a  little  gold  hunting  watch  from  be- 
hind the  brown  veil. 

'You  are  a  minute  slow,  sir — as  usual.'  Then  very 
softly, — '  Mr.  Falkirk,  what  with  being  pressed  and  re- 
pressed, I  am  dying  by  quarter  inches !  Just  intro- 
duce me  for  your  grandmother,  will  you,  and  I  will 
matronize  the  party.' 

A  request  Mr.  Falkirk  complied  with  by  entering  forth- 
with into  a  long  business  discussion  with  another  occu- 
pant of  the  stage  coach,  also  known  to  him  ;  in  which 
stocks,  commercial  regulations,  political  enterprises, 
and  the  relative  bearings  of  the  same,  precluded  all 
reference  to  anything  else  whatever.  Nobody's  grand- 
mother could  have  had  less  (visible)  attention  than  Miss 
Hazel,  up  to  the  time  when  the  coach  rolled  up  to  the 
door  of  a  wayside  inn,  and  the  party  got  out  to  a  lunch- 


CORNER  OF  A  STAGE  COACH.  17 

eon  or  early  dinner,  as  some  of  them  would  have  called 
it.  Then  indeed  she  had  enough.  Mr.  Falkirk  hand- 
ed her  out  and  handed  her  in  ;  straight  to  the  gay  car- 
peted "  Ladies'  room ; "  shut  the  door  carefully,  and 
asked  her  what  she  would  have.  No  other  lady  was 
there  to  dispute  possession. 

'  Only  a  broiled  chicken,  sir — and  a  souffle — and  pota- 
toes a  la  creme  au  gratin,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  throwing 
off  her  bonnet  and  curling  herself  down  on  the  arm  of 
the  sofa.  '  Mr.  Falkirk,  all  my  previous  acquaintance 
with  cushions  was  superficial ! — And  could  you  just 
open  the  window,  sir,  and  throw  back  the  blinds  ?  last 
November  is  in  this  room,  apples  and  all.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  obeyed  directions,  remarking  that  people 
who  travel  in  search  of  their  fortune  must  expect  to  meet 
with  November  in  unexpected  places  ;  then  went  off 
into  the  general  eating-room,  and  by  and  by,  from  there 
or  some  other  unsalubrious  region  came  a  servant,  with 
half  of  an  imperfectly  broiled  fowl  and  a  muddy  dish  of 
coffee,  flanked  by  a  plate  of  watery  pickled  cucumbers. 
Mr.  Falkirk  himself  presently  returned. 

'  How  does  it  go  ? '  he  said. 

'  What,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? '  the  young  lady  was  curled 
down  in  one  corner  of  the  sofa,  much  like  a  kitten ; 
a  small  specimen  of  which  animal  purred  complacently 
on  her  shoulder. 

'  Could  you  eat,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'Truly,  sir,  I  could.  Mr.  Falkirk — what  a  lovely  kit- 
ten !  Do  you  remark  her  length  of  tail  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  thought  he  had  heard  of  "  puss  in 
boots  "  before,  but  never  had  the  full  realization  there- 
of till  now. 

'  You  have  tasted  nothing,'  he  said.     '  What  shall  I 


1 8  WYCH    HAZEL. 

get  you  ?  We  shall  be  off  in  a  few  minutes,  and  you 
will  not  have  another  chance  till  we  reach  Hadyn's 
Dam.' 

'  Thank  you,  sir.  A  few  minutes  of  undisturbed  re- 
pose— with  the  removal  of  those  cucumbers — and  the  res- 
toration of  that  chicken  to  its  other  and  I  hope  better 
half,  is  all  that  I  require.' 

'  You  will  have  rest  at  Hadyn's  Dam,'  said  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk  with  a  face  more  expressive  than  his  words. — '  The 
bridge  there  is  broken.' 

'  Queer  place  to  rest,  sir  !  Mr.  Falkirk — there  is  Mr. 
Kingsland  wondering  why  you  keep  me  here.' 

'  He's  eating  his  dinner.' 

'  Is  he  ?  I  am  afraid  there  will  be  crumbs  in  the 
piazza,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  closing  her  eyes.  *  He  says 
he  don't  wonder  you  are  kept.' 

'  What  shall  I  get  you,  Wych  ?  You  cannot  go  from 
here  to  the  next  stopping  place  without  anything,'  Mr. 
Falkirk  said  kindly. 

'  If  you  could  find  me,  sir,  a  basket  that  would  just 
hold  this  kitten' — 

Mr.  Falkirk  wasted  no  more  words,  but  went  off,  and 
came  back  with  a  glass  of  milk  and  a  plate  of  doubtful 
'chunks'  of  cake.  The  room  was  empty.  Bonnet  and 
veil  were  gone,  and  even  the  kitten  had  disappeared. 
Meanwhile  the  stage  coach  rattled  and  swung  up  to  the 
piazza  steps,  where  were  presently  gathered  the  various 
travellers,  one  by  one.  '  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  Mr.  Kings- 
land,  as  that  gentleman  came  out  rather  hastily  to  see 
if  his  charge  might  be  there,  too,  '  you  are  not  surely— 
agoing  on  alone  ? ' 

Back  went  Mr.  Falkirk  into  the  house  again  to  look 
for  his  missing  ward,  who  had  plainly  been  foraging. 


CORNER  OF  A  STAGE  COACH.  19 

On  the  table  was  a  paper  of  crackers  ;  two  blue-eyed 
and  blue-aproned  youngsters  stood  watching  every  mo- 
tion as  she  swallowed  the  glass  of  milk,  and  in  her  hand 
was  a  suspicious  looking  basket.  Wych  Hazel  set 
down  her  empty  tumbler. 

'  My  dear  Mr.  Falkirk,  I  was  beginning  to  be  concern- 
ed about  you ! ' 

'What  are  you  going  to  do  with  that  basket,  Miss 
Hazel  ? ' 

'  Take  it  along,  sir.' 

'  On  your  lap,  I  suppose  !' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,  the  accuracy  of  your  judgment  is  un- 
paralleled. Is  that  our  coach  at  the  door  ? ' 

'  My  dear,  you  will  find  plenty  of  cats  at  Chickaree,' 
said  her  guardian,  looking  annoyed. 

'  Yes,  sir — '  said  the  young  lady  meekly,  dropping 
her  veil  and  fitting  on  her  gloves. 

'All  right,  sir,'  said  the  landlord  appearing  at  the 
door.  '  Roughish  road,  Mr.  Falkirk — and  t'other  gents 
not  enough  patience  to  divide  among  'em  and  go  half 
round — ' 

How  much  patience  Mr.  Falkirk  carried  to  the  gen- 
eral stock  does  not  appear.  But  presently,  lifting  one 
corner  of  her  basket  lid,  Wych  Hazel  drew  forth  a  radi- 
ant spray  of  roses,  and  laid  them  penitently  upon  the 
averted  line  of  her  guardian's  coatsleeve, 

'  Where  did  you  get  that  ?'  he  said.  '  You  had  better 
put  it  in  the  basket,  my  dear;  it  will  stand  a  better  chance 
to  keep  fresh.' 

'  Do  you  prefer  pinks,  sir  ? — or  here  are  bachelor's  but- 
tons— ' 

'They  seem  rather  common  things  to  me,' said  Mr. 
Falkirk  slowly,  yet  with  a  somewhat  pacified  brow.  There 
was  no  kitten  in  the  basket ! 


20  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  hadn't  the  heart  to  bring  puss,  as  we  were  going  to 
Catskill,'  whispered  Miss  Hazel. 

'  We  ! '  ejaculated  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  Nominative  case,  first  person  plural,  sir.' 

'And  what's  the  definition  of  an  adverb?' 

'  Something  which  qualifies  your  suffering — n'est  cefias, 
Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

'  Certainly,  by  its  primary  action  upon  your  doing, 
Miss  Hazel.  We  are  going  to  Chickaree.' 

To  which  statement  Miss  Hazel  for  the  present  made 
no  reply.  She  retreated  to  the  depths  of  her  own  cor- 
ner and  the  brown  veil ;  fingering  her  roses  now  and  then, 
and  (apparently)  making  endless  mental  '  studies  '  of  the 
wayside.  The  coach  jogged  lumberingly  on :  there  was 
no  relief  to  the  tiresomeness  of  the  way.  It  was  a  long 
morning.  Dusty  and  weary,  the  coach-load  was  set 
down  at  last  at  another  country  inn ;  by  the  side  of  a 
little  river  which  had  well  filled  its  banks.  The  trav- 
ellers were  not,  it  must  be  noted,  upon  any  of  the  great 
highways  of  passage,  but  had  taken  a  cut  across  coun- 
try, over  some  of  the  spurs  of  the  Catskill ;  where  a  rail- 
road was  not.  Mr.  Falkirk  brought  his  charge  into  the 
'  Ladies'  parlour,'  and  spoke  in  a  tone  of  irritated  busi- 
ness. 

'  This  is  Haydn's  Dam.  You  can  have  rest  and  din- 
ner now.' 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FELLOW    TRAVELLERS. 

DINNER — and  the  rest  of  it,'  translated  Miss  Hazel. 
'Will  it  be  needful  to  make  a  grand  toilette,  sir? 
or  shall  I  go  to  the  table  as  I  am  ?  If  one  may  judge 
of  the  selectness  of  the  company  by  their  conversa- 
tion ' — 

'  You'll  see  no  more  of  the  company,'  said  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk ;  'they  are  going  another  way,  and  we  have  to  wait 
here.  The  bridge  will  be  repaired  to-morrow,  I  sup- 
pose.' 

'  Yes,  sir.  We  don't  dine  upon  the  bridge,  I  pre- 
sume ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  went  off,  making  sure  that  the  door  latch- 
ed behind  him.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  he  came  back, 
with  an  attendant  bearing  a  tray. 

'  At  present  fortune  gives  us  nothing  more  remark- 
able than  fried  ham,'  he  said, — '  and  that  not  of  the  most 
eatable,  I  fear.  She  is  a  jade.  But  we'll  get  away  to- 
morrow. I  hope  so.' 

'  My  dear  sir,'  said  Wych  Hazel  with  a  radiant  face, 
'we  will  get  away  to-night.  I  find  that  the  bridge  is 
not  on  our  road,  after  all.  So  I  said  it  was  not  worth 


22  WYCH    HAZEL. 

while  to  get  a  room  ready  for  me, — and  the  baggage 
might  be  just  transferred.' 

'  To  what  ? ' 

'  To  the  other  stage,  sir.  Or  indeed  I  believe  it  is 
some  sort  of  a  baggage  wagon— as  the  roads  are  heavy 
— not  to  speak  of  the  passengers.  It  has  gone  on  up 
the  mountain.' 

'  What  has  ? '  exclaimed  Mr.  Falkirk,  whose  face  was 
a  study. 

'  The  wagon,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  seating  herself  by  the 
table.  '  More  particularly,  your  one  trunk  and  my  six, 
sir.' 

'  Where  has  it  gone  ? ' 

'  Up  the  mountain,  sir.  They  were  afraid  of  making 
the  stage  top  heavy — the  weight  of  intellect  inside  be- 
ing small.' 

'  Do  you  mean,  to  Catskill  ? ' 

'  Yes,  sir.  Poor  little  puss ! — Does  the  vegetation 
hereabouts  support  nothing  but  pigs  ?  '  said  Miss  Hazel, 
with  a  despairing  glance  from  the  dish  of  ham  to  a  yel- 
low haired  lassie  in  a  blue  gown,  who  just  then  brought 
in  a  pitcher  of  water.  Mr.  Falkirk  waited  till  the  dam- 
sel had  withdrawn,  and  went  to  the  window  and  came 
back  again  before  he  spoke. 

'You  should  have  consulted  me,  Miss  Hazel.  You 
are  bewildered.  It  is  not  a  good  time  to  go  up  the 
mountain  now.' 

'  Bewildered  ?     I ! '    was  Miss  Hazel's  only  answer. 

'  Yes,  you  don't  know  what  is  good  for  you.  I  shall 
send  for  those  trunks,  Wych.' 

'  Quite  useless,  sir.  There  is  nothing  else  going  up  tc 
the  Mountain  House  till  we  go  ourselves.  We  will  go  for 
them — there  is  nothing  like  doing  your  own  business.' 


FELLOW   TRAVELLERS.  23 

'  You  will  find  that  out  one  day,'  muttered  her  guar- 
dian. 

'Seeking  my  fortune,  and  wait  for  the  mending  of  a 
bridge  ! '  Hazel  went  on.  '  And  then  I  said  I  was  go- 
ing to  Catskill, — and  then  you're  the  best  guardian  in 
the  world,  Mr.  Falkirk,  so  it's  no  use  looking  as  if  you 
were  somebody  else.' 

'I  shall  be  somebody  else  directly,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk 
in  a  cynical  manner.  '  But  eat  your  dinner,  Miss  Hazel ; 
you  will  not  have  much  time.' 

A  meal  for  which  he  did  not  seem  to  care  himself, 
for  there  was  no  perceivable  time  when  he  took  it. 

The  stage  coach  into  which  the  party  presently  stow- 
ed themselves,  held  now  but  those  four — Mr.  Falkirk 
and  his  ward,  and  two  gentlemen  who  had  declared 
themselves  on  the  way  to  the  mountain.  The  former 
established  themselves  somewhat  taciturnly  in  the  sev- 
eral corners  of  the  back  seat,  and  so  made  the  journey  ; 
that  is  to  say,  as  much  as  possible,  for  Mr.  Falkirk  being 
known  to  the  other  could  not  avoid  now  and  then  lie- 
ing  drawn  into  communication  with  them.  One,  indeed, 
Mr.  Kingsland,  made  many  and  divers  overtures  to 
that  effect.  His  elegance  of  person  and  costume  was 
advantageously  displayed  in  an  opposite  corner,  from 
whence  he  distributed  civilities  as  occasion  offered. 
His  book  and  his  magazine  were  placed  at  the  brown 
veil's  disposal ;  he  stopped  the  coach  to  buy  cherries 
from  a  wayside  farm,  which  cherries  were  in  like  man- 
ner laid  at  Wych  Hazel's  feet  ;  and  his  observations  on 
the  topics  that  were  available,  demonstrated  all  his  stores 
of  wit  and  wisdom  equally  at  hand  and  ready  for  use. 
But  brown  veil  would  none  of  them  all.  The  daintiest 
of  hands  took  two  cherries  and  signed  away  the  rest ; 


24  WYCH    HAZEL. 

the  sweetest  of  girl  voices  declined  the  magazine  or 
gave  it  over  to  Mr.  Falkirk.  If  the  eyes  burned  brown 
lights  ( instead  of  blue )  in  their  seclusion,  if  the  voice 
just  didn't  break  with  fun,  perhaps  only  Mr.  Falkirk 
found  it  out,  and  he  by  virtue  of  previous  knowledge. 
But  in  fact,  Miss  Hazel  gave  the  keenest  attention  to 
everybody  and  everything. 

A  contrast  to  Mr.  Kingsland  was  their  other  fellow- 
traveller.  Mr.  Rollo  occupying  the  place  in  front  of 
Mr.  Falkirk,  made  himself  as  much  as  possible  at  ease 
on  the  middle  seat,  with  his  back  upon  the  persons  who 
engaged  Mr.  Kingsland's  attention  ;  but  he  did  not 
thereby  escape  theirs.  When  a  society  is  so  small,  the 
members  of  it  almost  of  necessity  take  note  of  one 
another.  The  little  brown-veiled  figure  could  not  help 
noticing  what  a  master  he  was  in  the  art  of  making  him- 
self comfortable  ;  how  skilfully  shawls  were  disposed  ; 
how  easily  hand  and  foot,  back  and  head,  took  the  best 
position  for  jolting  up  the  hill.  It  amused  her  as 
something  new  ;  for  Mr.  Falkirk  belonged  to  that  type 
of  manhood  which  rather  delights  in  being  ^//comfort- 
able whenever  circumstances  permit ;  and  other  men 
she  had  seen  few.  Mr.  Rollo  had  a  book  too,  which  he 
did  not  offer  to  lend  ;  and  he  gave  his  lazy  attention  to 
nothing  else — unless  when  a  bright  glance  of  eye  went 
over  to  Mr.  Kingsland.  He  was  as  patient  as  any  of 
the  party ;  as  truly  he  had  good  reason,  being  by  sev- 
eral degrees  the  most  comfortable.  But  Mr.  Falkirk 
moved  now  and  then  unrestingly,  and  the  back  seat  was 
hot  and  cramped, — and  Wych  found  the  jolts  and  heav- 
ings  of  the  coach  springs  a  thing  to  be  borne.  And 
that  swinging  and  swaying  middle  seat,  with  its  one  oc- 
cupant came  so  close  upon  her  premises,  that  she  dared 


FELLOW   TRAVELLERS.  25 

not  adventure  the  least  thing,  even  to  Mr.  Fall  ark.  If 
the  momentary  relief  of  turning  that  grey  travelling 
shawl  into  a  pincushion,  occurred  to  her,  nothing  came 
of  it ;  the  thick  folds  were  untouched  by  one  of  her  lit- 
tle fingers.  She  put  her  face  as  nearly  out  of  the  coach 
as  she  could,  and  perhaps  enjoyed  the  scenery,  if  any- 
one did.  Mr.  Falkirk  gave  no  sign  of  enjoyment,  men- 
tal or  physical,  and  Mr.  Kingsland  would  certainly  have 
been  asleep,  but  for  losing  sight  of  the  brown  veil — 
and  of  possible  something  it  might  do.  Yet  now  and 
then  there  were  fine  reaches  for  the  eye,  beautiful  knol 
ly  indications  of  a  change  of  surface,  which  gave  pictures- 
que lights  and  shades  on  their  soft  green.  Or  a  lonely 
valley,  with  smooth  fields  and  labourers  at  work,  tufty 
clumps  of  vegetation,  and  a  line  of  soft  willows  by  a 
watercourse,  varied  the  picture.  Then  the  ascent  began 
in  good  earnest,  and  trees  shut  it  in,  and  there  was 
everywhere  the  wild  leafy  smell  of  the  woods.  Night 
began  to  shut  it  in  to,  for  the  sun  was  early  hidden 
from  the  travellers ;  the  gloom,  or  the  fatigue  of  the  way, 
gathered  inside  the  coach  as  well,  on  all  except  the 
occupant  of  the  middle  seat.  Sometime  before  this  his 
ease-seeking  had  displayed  itself  in  a  new  way ;  and 
letting  himself  out  of  the  coach  door  he  had  kept  up  a 
progress  of  his  own  by  the  side  of  the  vehicle,  which 
quite  distanced  its  slow  and  toilsome  method  of  ad- 
vance. For  Rollo  was  not  only  getting  on  with  a  light 
step  up  the  road,  but  making  acquaintance  with  every 
foot  of  it;  gathering  flowers,  pocketing  stones,  and  find- 
ing time  to  fling  others,  which  rebounded  with  a  rack- 
etty  hop,  skip  and  jump,  down  the  side  of  the  deep  ra- 
vine on  the  edge  of  which  the  way  was  coasting.  Then 
making  up  for  his  delay  by  a  mode  of  locomotion  which 


26  WYCH    HAZEL. 

seemed  to  speak  him  kindred  to  the  squirrels,  he  swung 
himself  over  difficult  places  by  the  help  of  hanging 
branches  of  trees,  and  bounded  from  rock  to  rock,  till  he 
was  again  far  ahead  of  the  horses,  and  of  the  road  too: 
lost  out  of  sight  in  another  direction.  Now  and  then  a 
few  rich  notes  of  a  German  air  came  down,  or  up,  to 
the  coach  tantalizingly.  Certainly  Mr.  Rollo  was  enjoy- 
ing himself;  and  it  was  made  more  indubitably  certain 
to  the  poor  plodders  along  inside  the  coach,  by  the 
faint  fumes  of  an  excellent  cigar  which  '  whiles  '  made 
themselves  perceptible. 

Now  to  say  the  truth,  it  was  all  tantalizing  to  Wych 
Hazel.  In  the  first  place  she  was,  as  she  had  said, 
'cramped  to  death,'  physically  and  mentally, — both 
parts  of  her  composition  just  spoiling  for  a  fight ;  and 
whereas  she  had  hitherto  kept  her  face  well  out  of  the 
window,  now  she  drew  it  resolutely  within,  for  with 
somebody  to  look  at,  it  did  not  suit  Miss  Hazel's  ideas 
to  be  looking.  She  could  not  tease  Mr.  Falkirk,  who 
had  gone  to  sleep ;  Mr.  Kingsland  was  absolutely  be- 
yond reach,  except  of  rather  thorny  wishes  ;  and  when 
at  length  the  dilettante  cigar  perfumes  began  to  assert 
themselves,  Wych  Hazel  flung  the  rest  of  her  patience 
straight  out  of  the  window,  and  looked  after  it.  The 
coach  was  stopping  just  then-  by  another  wayside  inn, 
to  exchange  mail-bags  and  water  the  horses,  and  fa- 
voured by  the  gathering  dusk,  a  sharp  business  transac- 
tion at  once  went  into  effect  between  the  young  lady 
within  and  some  one  without ;  whereof  nothing  at  first 
transpired.  Mr.  Kingsland  knew  only  that  on  one  side 
the  tones  might  rival  a  mountain  brook  for  their  soft 
impetuosity.  There  was  '  a  show  of  hands '  too,  and 
then  the  coach  jolted  on  and  Mr.  Falkirk  woke  up  ; 


FELLOW   TRAVELLERS.  2J 

but  not  till  the  tired  horses  had  gone  down  one  pitch 
and  up  another,  did  he  hear  a  faint  '  mew '  which  raised 
its  voice  at  his  elbow. 

'  What  have  you  got  there  ? '  he  said  hastily. 

'  A  pair  of  whiskers,  sir.' 

'  Where  did  you  get  that  thing  ? '  was  the  next  de- 
mand, made  with  considerable  disgust. 

'Really,  sir — whiskers  not  being  contraband — ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  was  a  patient  man  ;  at  least  Wych  Hazel 
generally  found  him  so ;  and  at  present  he  merely  fell 
back  into  his  corner,  without  making  his  thoughts  any 
further  apparent  than  the  gesture  made  them.  He 
offered  no  remark,  not  even  when  the  dismayed  condi- 
tion of  the  whiskers  aforesaid  suggested  sundry  earnest 
and  energetic  efforts  at  escape,  with  demonstrations 
.that  called  up  Miss  Hazel  from  the  quietude  ot  her 
corner  to  be  earnest  and  active  in  her  turn.  Fright- 
ened, not  sure  of  the  kind  intentions  of  the  little  hands 
that  kept  such  firm  hold, — the  kitten  struggled  and 
growled,  and  at  last  sent  forth  its  feelings  in  a  series  of 
mews,  sostenuto  and  alto  to  an  alarming  degree.  Mr. 
Kingsland  smiled — then  coughed, — and  Wych  Hazel's 
laugh  broke  forth  in  a  low  but  very  defined  '  Ha !  ha  !  ' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said,  '  please  open  your  heart  and 
give  me  a  biscuit.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  cried  a  cheerful  voice,  rather  low, 
from  the  other  side  of  the  road,  '  what  have  you  got  on 
board  ? ' 

If  Mr.  Falkirk's  inward  reply  had  been  spoken  aloud 
and  in  a  past  age,  it  might  have  cost  poor  Miss  Hazel 
her  life ;  as  it  was,  he  only  said,  'Can  you  cut  a  broom- 
stick, Rollo  ? '  The  answer  perhaps  went  into  action, 
for  the  young  mar.  disappeared. 


28  WYCH   HAZEL. 

Turning  its  wee  head  from  side  to  side,  as  it  munched 
the  biscuit,  soothed  by  the  soft  touch  of  soft  hands,  the 
kitten  so  far  forgot  herself  as  to  break  now  and  then 
into  a  loud  irregular  purr ;  but  her  little  mistress  was 
absolutely  silent  and  still,  though  the  light  fingers  never 
ceased  their  caressing,  until  puss  had  finished  the  bis- 
cuit and  purred  herself  to  sleep.  By  this  time  the  coach 
jogged  along  in  absolute  darkness,  except  for  what  help 
the  stars  gave.  The  plashing  of  a  stream  over  its 
rough  bed  far  down  below,  gave  token  sometimes  that 
the  wheels  of  the  coach  were  near  an  abyss ;  the  flutter 
of  leaves  told  that  the  forest  was  all  around  them  al- 
ways. The  irregular  traveller  had  re-entered  the  coach 
and  sat  among  his  shawls  as  still  as  the  rest  of  the 
party ;  who  perhaps  were  all  slumbering  as  well  as  the 
kitten.  It  appeared  so  ;  for  when  that  small  individual 
started  to  consciousness  and  consequent  alarm  again, 
and  was  making  an  excursion  among  •  the  feet  of  the 
gentlemen  on  the  coach  floor,  its  aroused  mistress  was 
only  aroused  in  time  to  hear  a  consolatory  whisper  from 
one  of  her  companions — '  Poor  little  Kathleen  Mavour- 
neen,  by  what  misfortune  did  you  get  in  here  ?  There 
— be  still  and  go  to  sleep.'  And  as  no  more  was  heard, 
on  either  side,  it  seemed  probable  the  advice  had  been 
followed.  At  any  rate  no  more  was  seen  of  the  kitten, 
not  even  when  the  stage  coach  swept  round  the  level 
on  which  the  house  stands,  and  drew  up  at  the  door, 
where  the  light  of  lamps  gave  opportunity  for  observa- 
tion. Wych  Hazel  only  saw  that  her  neighbour  flung  a 
shawl  demurely  enough  over  one  shoulder  and  arm, 
where  the  cat  might  have  been,  and  letting  himself  out, 
proceeded  to  do  the  same  office  with  full  dexterity 
though  with  one  hand  for  the  little  cat's  mistress. 


FELLOW   TRAVELLERS.  29 

Ensconcing  herself  even  closer  than  ever  in  mantle 
and  veil,  Wych  Hazel  passed  on  through  the  gay 
groups  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  there  paused. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said  softly,  '  I  want  my  tea  up 
stairs,  please,' — and  passed  on  after  the  maid. 

'  So,'  said  one  of  the  loiterers  in  the  hall  approaching 
Mr.  Falkirk,  '  so  my  dear  sir,  you've  brought  Miss 
Kennedy  !  At  last ! — Now  for  candidates.  If  the  face 
match  the  hand  and  foot,  the  supply  will  be  heavy.' 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN   THE    FOG. 

THERE  was  mist  everywhere.  On  the  winding 
bed  of  the  river,  lying  piled  like  a  gray  eider- 
down coverlet ;  folding  itself  over  the  forest  trees ; 
floating  up  to  the  Mountain  House,  and  hanging  about 
the  rocks.  But  overhead  the  sky  looked  bright,  and 
Sirius  waved  his  torch  which  the  vapour  had  filled  with 
coloured  lights.  As  yet  sunrise  was  not. 

In  front  of  the  house,  where  a  grey  rock  started  from 
the  very  edge  of  the  bank,  spreading  a  platform  above 
the  precipice,  sat  Wych  Hazel ;  her  feet  so  nearly  over 
the  rock  that  they  seemed  resting  on  the  mist  itself ; 
her  white  scarf  falling  back  from  her  head  like  a  wreath 
of  lighted  coloured  vapour.  Perhaps  there  were  no 
other  strangers  to  the  Mountain  House  within  its  walls  ; 
perhaps  the  morning  was  too  chill  ;  perhaps  all  of  the 
'  candidates '  were  on  the  other  side  ;  for  she  sat  alone. 
Until  the  flaming  torch  of  Sirius  paled,  until  the  dawn 
began  to  shimmer  and  gleam  among  the  fleeces  of  mist, 
— until  they  parted  here  and  there  before  the  arrows  of 
light,  showing  spires  and  houses  and  a  bit  of  the  river 
in  the  far  distance.  So  fair,  unfeatured,  misty  and 


IN   THE    FOG.  31 

sparkling  at  once,  lay  life  before  the  young  gazer.  Mr. 
Falkirk  might  have  moralized  thus,  standing  close  be- 
hind her  as  he  was,  still  and  silent ;  but  it  is  not  likely 
he  did ;  useless  moralizing  was  never  in  Mr.  Falkirk^s 
way. 

'  How  do  you  like  your  fortune,  Miss  Hazel,  as  you 
find  it  at  present  ? '  he  said. 

'  Very  undefined,  sir.  Good  morning,  Mr.  Falkirk — 
what  made  you  get  up  ? ' 

'  My  knowledge  of  your  character.' 

'So  attractive,  sir  ?'  She  glanced  up  at  him,  then 
looked  away  over  the  mist,  with  her  arms  crossed  over 
her  bosom  and  a  grave  look  of  thought  settling  down 
upon  her  young  face;  as  if  womanhood  were  dawning 
upon  her,  with  its  mysterious  opalescent  light. 

'  Evangeline  saw  her  way  all  clear  when  she  reached 
the  mountain-top,'  she  said  musingly  ;  '  but  mine  looks 
misty  enough.  Mr.  Falkirk,  will  this  fog  clear  away 
before  sunset  ? ' 

'  Or  settle  down  into  rain.' 

But  while  he  spoke,  the  sun  mounting  higher,  shot 
through  the  very  heart  of  the  mist ;  and  the  broken 
clouds  began  to  roll  away  in  golden  vapour,  or  were 
furled  and  drawn  up  with  bands  of  light.  And  now 
came  voices  from  the  piazza. 

'You  knew  it  last  night,  Mr.  Kingsland  ?  and  never 
told  me  ! '  said  an  oldish  lady.  '  And  there  is  the 
sweet  creature  this  minute,  on  the  rock  ! ' 

Wych  Hazel  sprang  to  her  feet.  '  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she 
said, '  you  are  inquired  for  ; ' — and  darting  past  him  she 
vanished  round  the  house.  Mr.  Falkirk,  as  in  duty 
bound,  followed  ;  but  when  a  needful  point  of  view  was 
attained,  his  charge  was  nowhere  within  sight,  and  he 


2 2  WYCH    HAZEL. 

returned  to  the  house  to  be  in  readiness  to  meet,  her 
when  the  bell  should  ring  for  breakfast. 

But  a  couple  of  hours  later,  when  the  bell  rang,  Miss 
Hazel  was  not  forthcoming.  The  guests  gathered  to  the 
breakfast-room.  Mr.  Falkirk  remained  in  the  empty 
hall,  pacing  up  and  down  from  door  to  door,  then  went 
to  see  if  Wych  Hazel  were  by  chance  in  her  room.  Mrs. 
Saddler  was  in  consternation,  having  heard  nothing  of 
her.  Mr.  Falkirk  returned  to  his  walk  in  the  hall, 
chaffing  a  little  now  with  something  that  was  not  pa- 
tience. Presently  Rollo  came  down  the  stairs. 

'  Good  morning.' 

'  Good  morning.' 

'  Exercise  before  breakfast  ? — Or  after  ? ' 

'  Not  after,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  ; '  but  you  are  late  as  it  is.' 

'  Better  late,  if  you  can't  be  early.  You  have  a  bet- 
ter chance.  I  will  wait  with  you,  if  you  are  waiting.' 

'  Don't  wait  for  me,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  shortly.  '  I 
have  no  idea  when  I  shall  be  ready.' 

'  I  had  no  idea,  a  little  while  ago,  when  I  should. 
By  the  way,  I  hope  Miss  Kennedy  is  well,  this  morn- 

'"b  • 

'I  hope  so.' 

'  She  is  not  down  yet  ? ' 

'  She  has  been  down,  and  I  have  not  heard  of  her 
going  up  again.' 

'  In  the  breakfast-room,  perhaps,'  said  the  young  man. 
And  passing  on,  he  made  his  way  thither,  while  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk stood  at  the  hall  door.  No,  Miss  Kennedy  was 
not  in  the  breakfast-room  ;  and  instead  of  sitting  down 
Mr.  Rollo  went  out  by  another  way,  picking  up  a  roll 
from  the  table  as  he  passed,  and  wrapping  it  in  a  nap- 
kin. He  took  a  straight  course  to  the  woods,  over  the 


IN   THE   FOG.  33 

grass,  where  no  uninstructed  eye  could  see  that  the  dew 
had  been  brushed  away  by  a  lighter  foot  than  his.  But 
if  lighter,  hardly  so  swift  as  the  spring)'  stride  and  leap 
which  carried  him  over  yards  of  the  rough  way  at  a 
bound,  and  cleared  obstacles  that  would  have  hindered, 
at  least  slightly,  most  other  people.  The  mountain  was 
quickly  won  in  this  style,  and  Rollo  gained  a  high  ledge 
where  the  ground  lay  more  level.  He  went  deliberately 
here,  and  used  a  pair  of  eyes  as  quick  as  might  match 
the  feet,  though  not  to  notice  how  the  clew  sparkled 
on  the  moss  or  how  the  colours  changed  in  the  valley. 
He  was  far  above  the  Mountain  House,  on  the  wild 
hillside.  The  sun  had  scattered  the  fog  from  the  lower 
country,  which  lay  a  wide  dreamland  to  tempt  the  eye; 
and  nearer  by  the  lesser  charms  of  rock  and  tree,  moss 
and  lichen,  light  and  shadow,  played  with  each  other  in 
wildering  combinations.  But  Rollo  did  not  look  at  val- 
ley or  hill  ;  his  eyes  were  seeking  a  gleam  of  colour 
which  they  had  seen  that  morning  once  before  ;  and 
seeking  it  with  the  spy  of  an  eagle.  No  grass  here  gave 
sign  of  a  footstep.  Soft  lichen  and  unbending  ferns 
kept  the  secret,  if  they  had  one ;  the  evergreens  were 
noisy  with  birds,  but  otherwise  mute;  the  fog  still  set- 
tled down  in  the  ravines  and  hid  whatever  they  held. 

"Thither  Mr.  Rollo  at  last  took  his  way,  after  a  mo- 
ment's observation  :  down  the  woody,  craggy  sides  of  a 
wild  dell ;  the  thick  vapour  into  which  he  plunged  suffi- 
ciently bewildering  even  to  his  practised  eyes.  Partridges 
whirred  away  from  before  him,  squirrels  chattered  over 
his  head,  but  his  particular  quarry  Mr.  Rollo  could  no- 
where find.  Through  that  ravine  and  up  the  next  ledge, 
with  the  sun  rising  hotter  and  hotter,  and  breakfast  long 
over  at  the  Mountain  House. 
3 


34  WYCH    HAZEL, 

He  found  her  at  last  so  suddenly  that  he  stopped 
short.  She  was  tired  probably,  for  she  had  dropped 
herself  down  on  the  moss,  her  cheek  on  her  hands,  and 
had  dropped  her  eyelids  too,  in  something  very  like 
slumber  ;  the  clear  brown  cheek  bearing  its  usual  pink 
tinges  but  faintly.  The  figure  curled  down  upon  the 
moss  was  rather  tall,  of  a  light  build ;  the  features  were 
not  just  regular ;  the  hair  of  invisible  brown  lay  in  very 
wayward  silky  curls  ;  and  the  eyes,  as  soon  could  be 
seen,  were  to  match,  both  as  to  colour  and  waywardness. 
The  mouth  was  a  very  woman's  mouth,  though  the  girl- 
ish arch  lines  had  hardly  yet  learned  their  own  powers 
whether  of  feeling  or  persuasion.  Very  womanish,  too, 
was  the  sweep  of  the  arm  outline,  and  the  hand  and 
foot  were  dainty  in  the  extreme.  Neither  hand  or  foot 
stirred  for  other  feet  approaching,  the  pretty  gypsy 
having  probably  tired  herself  into  something  like  uncon- 
sciousness ;  and  the  first  sound  of  which  she  was  thor- 
oughly sensible  was  her  own  name.  The  speaker  was 
standing  near  her  when  she  looked  up,  with  his  hat  in 
his  hand,  and  an  air  of  grave  deference.  He  expressed 
a  fear  that  she  was  fatigued. 

She  had  half-dreamily  opened  her  eyes  and  looked  up 
at  first,  but  there  was  nothing  '  fatigued '  in  the  way  the 
eyes  went  down  again,  nor  in  the  quick  skill  with  which 
the  scarf  was  caught  up  and  flung  round  her,  fold  after 
fold,  until  she  was  muffled  and  turbaned  like  an  Egyp- 
tian. Then  she  rose  demurely  to  her  feet. 

'Thank  you,  sir,  for  arousing  me.  Is  Mr.  Falkirk  here  ? ' 

'  No — I  am  alone.  But  you  are  at  a  distance  from 
home.  Can  you  go  back  without  some  refreshment  ? ' 
The  words  and  the  speaker  were  quiet  enough,  but  Wych 
Hazel's  colour  stirred  uneasily. 


IN   THE   FOG.  35 

'Yes.  Don't  let  me  detain  you,  sir,'  she  said,  putting 
herself  in  quick  motion  across  the  moss.  He  met  her 
on  the  other  side  of  a  big  boulder  and  stayed  her,  though 
with  the  quietest  manner  of  interference. 

'  I  beg  your  pardon — but  if  you  wish  to  go  home — ' 

'  Yes'  she  answered,  with  a  half  laugh,  glancing  up' 
at  the  sun  ;  '  I  know.  I  am  only  going  round  this  way.' 

He  stayed  her  still.  '  I  can  guide  you  this  way,'  he 
said  ;  '  but — it  is  not  the  way  to  the  House.' 

Another  glance  at  the  sun.     'Which  is  the  way?' 

'  I  will  show  it  to  you.  Do  you  care  most  for  speed 
or  smooth  going  ?  You  are  tired  ? ' 

Wych  Hazel  knit  her  brows  into  the  most  abortive 
attempt  at  a  frown.  What  right  had  he  to  suppose  that 
she  was  tired  ! 

'  If  you  will  just  show  me  the  way,  sir — the  shortest ; 
I  mean,  point  out  the  direction.' 

He  was  standing  and  waiting  her  pleasure  with  con- 
tented gravity.  'The  direction  is  not  to  be  followed 
in  a  straight  line,'  said  he.  '  I  can  only  show  you  by 
going  before.  Is  that  your  meaning  ? ' 

'  I  should  like  to  get  home  the  shortest  way,'  said  she 
hesitating. 

He  went  on  without  more  words,  and  maintaining  the 
polished  gravity  of  his  first  address  ;  but  Wych  Hazel 
had  reason  to  remember  her  walk  of  that  morning.  It 
was  a  shorter  way  than  he  had  come,  that  by  which  her 
conductor  took  her,  and  in  parts  easy  enough  ;  but  in 
other  parts  requiring  his  skill  as  well  as  hers  to  get  her 
over  them.  He  said  not  a  word  further  ;  he  served  her 
in  silence  :  the  vexatious  thing  was,  that  he  was  able  to 
serve  her  so  much.  Many  a  time  she  had  to  accept  his 
hand  to  get  past  a  rude  place  ;  often  both  hands  were 


36  WYCH    HAZEL. 

needed  to  swing  her  over  a  watercourse  or  leap  her  down 
from  a  rock.  She  was  agile  and  light  of  foot  ;  she  did 
what  woman  could  ;  it  was  only  by  sheer  necessity  that 
she  yielded  the  mortifying  tacit  confession  to  man's  su- 
perior strength,  and  gave  so  often  opportunity  to  a  pair 
of  good  eyes  to  see  what  she  was  like  near  at  hand. 
Wych  Hazel's  own  eyes  made  few  discoveries.  She 
covildfeel  every  now  and  then  that  her  conductor's  hand 
and  foot  were  as  firm  and  reliable  as  the  mountain  it- 
self. This  course  of  travelling  brought  them,  however, 
soon  to  the  level  of  the  Mountain  House  and  to  plain 
going.  There  Mr.  Rollo  fell  behind,  allowing  the  young 
lady  to  take  her  own  pace  in  crossing  the  lawn  and  the 
hall,  only  attending  her  like  her  shadow  to  the  foot  of 
the  stairs.  With  the  first  reaching  of  level  ground,  he  had 
had  a  full  look  and  gesture  of  acknowledgment ;  what 
became  of  him  afterwards  Miss  Hazel  seemed  not  to 
know.  H<;  knew  that  she  ran  up  the  first  flight  of  stairs, 
and  that  once  out  of  sight  her  steps  drooped  instantly. 

'So!'  said  Mr.  Kingsland,  advancing.  'Really! 
Rollo  my  dear  fellow,  how  are  we  to  understand  this  ? ' 

'  Give  us  an  introduction  after  lunch,  will  you  ? '  said 
another. 

'  But,  Mr.  Rollo,  how  extraordinary !'  said  one  of  the 
dowagers. 

'  Madame ! '  said  Mr.  Rollo,  waiting  upon  the  last 
speaker,  hat  in  hand. 

'  Let  him  alone,  my  dear  lady ! '  said  Mr.  Kingsland  ; 
'he's  got  to  prepare  for  coffee  and  pistols  with  Mr. 
Falkirk.  And  coffee  I  fancy  he's  ready  for — eh,  Dane  ? 
Go  get  your  breakfast,  and  I'll  break  matters  gently  to 
the  guardian.' 

'  Will  you  do  that,  my  dear  fellow  ? ' 


IN   THE   FOG.  37 

'  Can  you  doubt  me  ? ' 

'  I  wish  you  would,  for  I  am  hungry  ,'said  Dane,  draw- 
ing his  hand  over  his  face.  '  Mr.  Falkirk  is  going  off 
toward  the  cataract — just  run  after  him  and  tell  him 
that  his  ward  is  come  home  ; — has  he  had  breakfast  ? ' 

'  Run,  I  guess  I — wont ! '  said  Mr.  Kingsland.  '  But 
to  be  the  first  bearer  of  welcome  news  ' — And  Mr.  Falkirk 
roaming  among  trees  and  rocks  was  presently  accosted 
by  two  gentlemen. 

'  Allow  me,  my  dear  sir,  to  congratulate  you,'  said  the 
foremost.  '  Miss  Kennedy  is  safe.  Our  friend  Rollo 
has  with  his  usual  sagacity  gone  straight  to  the  mark, 
and  without  a  moment's  thought  of  his  own  breakfast  or 
strength  has  found  the  young  lady  and  followed  her 
home.' 

'  She  is  at  home,  then  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  She  is  at  home,  sir ;  the  Mountain  House  is  made 
radiant  by  her  presence.  And  now,  permit  me — Dr. 
Maryland, — son  of  your  friend  at  Chickaree.  Only 
your  neighbour  upon  Christian  principles  here,  sir,  but 
bonafide  neighbour  at  Chickaree,  and  most  anxious  to  be 
acquainted  with  the  fair  owner  thereof.' 

Too  honest-hearted  to  feel  the  inuendo  of  Mr.  Kings- 
land's  last  words,  their  undeniable  truth  flushed  Dr. 
Maryland  somewhat  as  he  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk. He  was  a  well  looking  young  man,  with  a  clear 
blue  eye  which  said  the  world's  sophistications  would 
find  no  Parley  the  porter  to  admit  them  ;  and  Mr.  Falkirk 
would  certainly  have  begun  to  like  his  young  neighbour 
on  the  spot,  if  he  had  not  been  on  a  sudden  summoned 
to  the  house. 

Miss  Hazel,  speeding  up-stairs  in  the  manner  before 
related,  reached  her  room  safely;  but  there  proceeding 


38  WYCH    HA2EL. 

to  answer  or  evade  Mrs.  Saddler's  questions,  also  to  in- 
dulge herself  in  sundry  musings,  did  not  indeed  forget 
to  despatch  a  peremptory  order  for  breakfast ;  but  as  that 
refreshment  was  somewhat  delayed,  the  young  lady  in  an 
impatient  fit  of  time-saving  began  to  change  her  dress, 
and  fainted  away  charmingly  during  the  process.  At 
which  moment  the  maid  and  breakfast  entered  the  room, 
and  the  former  promptly  set  down  her  tray,  and  ran  off 
to  summon  the  only  doctor  then  at  the  Mountain 
House. 

Little  did  Dr.  Maryland  guess  the  meaning  of  those 
mysterious  words — 'a  lady  wants  you  ! '  Still  less,  what 
lady.  And  as  by  the  time  he  reached  the  room,  Miss 
Hazel  opened  her  eyes  for  his  express  benefit,  the  doc- 
tor stopped  short  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  his  ideas 
more  unsettled  than  ever.  But  Mr.  Falkirk,  who  had 
accompanied  the  doctor,  though  not  expecting  to  find 
their  paths  all  the  way  identical,  pressed  forward  with  a 
face  of  great  concern. 

'  Miss  Hazel ! — is  it  you  ?     What  is  the  matter  ? ' 

'  Do  I  look  like  somebody  else,  sir  ? ' 

Like  nobody  else !  thought  Dr.  Maryland ;  while, 
learning  the  whole  of  Mrs.  Saddler's  explanations  from 
the  first  five  words,  he  went  on  to  apply  such  remedies  as 
were  strongest  and  nearest  at  hand.  In  a  medical  point 
of  view  it  was  not  perhaps  needful  that  he  should  hold 
the  coffee-cup  himself  all  the  time,  but  if  this  were  not 
really  his  '  first  case,'  it  bid  fair  to  be  so  marked  in  his 
memory.  Perhaps  he  forgot  the  coffee-cup,  till  Mr. 
Falkirk  gently  relieved  him  of  it  with  a  word  of  dismis- 
sion, and  the  doctor  modestly  withdrew ;  then  sending 
Mrs.  Saddler  for  some  bottled  ale,  Mr.  Falkirk  went  on, 
'  Wych,  where  have  you  been  ? ' 


IN   THE   FOG.  39 

'  Following  the  steps  of  my  great  predecessor,  King 
Alfred,  sir.' 

'  In  what  line?' 

'  Retiring  from  the  enemy,  sir,  and  being  obliged  to 
meet  the  Dane ' — said  Miss  Hazel,  innocently  closing 
her  eyes. 

4  Where  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  shortly. 

'  I  don't  know,  sir.  In  some  of  the  wild  places  fa- 
voured by  such  outlaws.  Don't  you  know,  he  has  just 
come  over  the  sea  ?' 

There  was  a  pause  of  some  seconds. 

'Wych,'  said  her  guardian  kindly,  'do  you  know  it  is 
not  nice  for  little  girls  to  make  themselves  so  conspic- 
uous as  your  morning  walk  has  made  you  to  clay  ? ' 

Some  feeling  of  her  own  brought  the  blood  to  her 
cheek  and  brow,  vividly. 

'  I  don't  know  what  you  call  conspicuous,  sir ;  only 
one  person  found  me.  And  if  you  think  I  lost  myself 
in  the  fog  on  purpose,  Mr.  Falkirk,  you  think  me  a 
much  smaller  girl  than  I  am  ! ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  smiled — a  little,  passing  his  hand  very 
lightly  over  the  brow  which  did  look  certainly  as  if  it 
had  belonged  to  a  little  girl  not  very  long  ago ;  but  he 
said  no  more,  except  to  advise  the  young  lady  to  eat  a 
good  breakfast. 

Not  to  be  conspicuous,  however,  from  this  day  was 
beyond  little  Miss  Hazel's  power,  to  whatever  degree  it 
might  have  been  within  her  wish.  The  house  was  at 
this  time  not  yet  filled  ;  but  of  all  its  inclwellers,  old  and 
young,  male  and  female,  higher  and  lower  in  the  scale  of 
society,  every  eye  and  tongue  was  at  her  service  ;  so 
far  as  being  occupied  with  her  made  it  so.  Every  hand 
was  at  her  service  more  literally.  Did  not  the  very 


40  WYCH    HAZEL. 

serving-men  at  table  watch  her  eye  ?  Was  not  he  the 
best  fellow  who  could  recommend  the  hottest  omelet 
and  bring  the  freshest  cakes  to  her  hand  ?  The  young 
heiress,  the  young  mistress  of  fabulous  acres,  and  '  such 
a  beautiful  old  place  ;'  the  new  beauty,  who  bid  fair  to 
bewitch  all  the  world  with  hand  and  foot  and  gypsy 
eyes, — nay,  the  current  all  set  one  way.  Even  old  do- 
wagers looked  to  praise,  and  even  their  daughters  to 
admire  ;  while  of  the  men,  all  were  at  her  feet.  Atten- 
tions, civil,  kind,  and  recommendatory,  showered  on 
Miss  Hazel  from  all  sides.  Would  that  little  head 
stand  it,  with  its  wayward  curls  and  some  slight  indica- 
tion of  waywardness  within  ?  How  would  it  keep  its 
position  over  such  a  crowd  of  servants  self-made  in  her 
honour  ?  Some  of  them  were  very  devoted  servants  in- 
deed, and  seemed  willing  to  proclaim  their  devotion. 
Among  these  was  Mr.  Kingsland,  who  constituted  him- 
self her  right-hand  man  in  general ;  but  Dr.  Maryland 
was  not  far  off,  if  less  presuming.  Miss  Hazel  could 
not  walk  or  ride  or  come  into  a  room  without  some  sort 
of  homage  from  one  or  all  of  these. 

'  Dear  little  thing !  pretty  little  thing  ! '  exclaimed  a 
lady,  an  old  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Falkirk's,  one  evening. 
*  Charming  little  creature  !  How  will  she  bear  it  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  was  standing  near  by. 

'  She  wants  a  better  guardian, '  the  lady  went  on 
whispering. 

'I  wish  she  had  a  mother, '  he  said. 

'  Or  a  husband  ! ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  was  silent ;  then  he  said  :  '  It  is  too  soon 
for  that.' 

1  Yes — too  soon,'  said  the  lady  meditatively  as  she 
looked  at  Wych  Hazel's  curls,— 'but  what  will  she  do  ? 


IN   THE    FOG.  41 

Somebody  will  deceive  her  into  thinking  he  is  the  right 
man,  while  it  is  too  soon. ' 

'  Nobody  shall  deceive  her,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  between 
his  teeth. 

It  must  be  mentioned  that  an  exception,  in  some 
sort,  to  all  this  adulation,  was  furnished  by  the  friend 
of  Miss  Hazel's  morning  walk.  Mr.  Rollo,  if  the  truth 
must  be  told,  seemed  to  live  more  for  his  own  pleasure 
than  anybody  else's.-  Why  he  had  taken  that  morning's 
scramble  unless  on  motives  of  unwonted  benevolence, 
remained  known  only  to  himself.  Since  then  he  had 
not  exerted  himself  in  her  or  anybody's  service.  Pleas- 
ant and  gay  he  was  when  anybody  saw  him  ;  but  nobody's 
servant.  By  day  Mr.  Rollo  roamed  the  woods,  for  he 
was  said  to  be  a  great  hunter— or  he  lay  on  the  grass  in 
the  shade  with  a  book — or  he  found  out  for  himself  some 
delectable  place  or  pleasure  unknown  previously  to  oth- 
ers, though  as  soon  as  known  sure  to  be  approved  and 
adopted ;  and  at  evening  the  rich  scents  of  his  cigar 
floated  in  the  air  where  the  moonlight  lay  brightest  or 
shadows  played  daintiest.  But  he  did  not  seem  to  share 
the  universal  attraction  towards  the  daintiest  thing  of  all 
at  the  Mountain.  He  saw  her,  certainly  ;  he  was  some- 
times seen  looking  at  her ;  but  then  he  would  leave 
the  place  where  her  presence  held  everybody,  and  the 
perfume  of  his  cigar  would  come  as  aforesaid ;  or  the 
distant  notes  of  a  song  said  that  Mr.  Rollo  and  the 
rocks  were  congenial  society.  If  he  met  the  little  Queen 
of  the  company  indeed  anywhere,  he  would  lift  his  hat 
and  stand  by  to  let  her  pass  with  the  most  courtier-like 
deference  ;  he  would  lift  his  hat  to  her  shadow ;  but  he 
never  testified  any  inclination  to  follow  it.  The  more 
notable  this  was,  because  Rollo  was  a  pet  of  the  world 


42  WYCH    HAZEL. 

himself ;  one  of  those  whom  every  society  welcomes,  and 
who  for  that  very  reason  perhaps  are  a  little  nonchalant 
towards  society. 

It  was  a  proof  how  gayly  and  sweetly  she  took  the 
popular  vote,  that  she  bore  so  easily  his  defalcation. 
Vanity  was  not  one  of  her  pet  follies  ;  and  besides,  that 
morning's  work  had  brought  on  Miss  Hazel  an  unwont- 
ed fit  of  grave  propriety ;  she  was  a  little  inclined  to 
keep  herself  in  the  background.  Amuse  her  the  ad- 
miration did,  however.  It  was  funny  to  see  Mr.  Kings- 
land  forsake  billiards  and  come  to  quote  Tennyson  to 
her ;  Dr.  Maryland's  shy,  distant  homage  was  more 
comical  yet ;  and  the  tender  little  mouth  began  to  find 
out  its  lines  and  dimples  and  power  of  concealment. 
But  the  young  heart  had  a  good  share  of  timidity,  and 
that  stirred  very  often;  making  the  colour  rlit  to  and  fro 
'  like  the  rosy  light  upon  the  sky' — Mr.  Kingsland  origin- 
ally observed;  while  Dr.  Maryland  looked  at  the  evening 
star  and  was  silent.  Compliments  ! — how  they  rained 
down  upon  her  ;  how  gayly  she  shook  them  off.  And 
as  to  Mr.  Rollo,  if  there  was  anything  Miss  Hazel  dis- 
liked it  was  to  submit  to  guidance  ;  and  she  had  been 
obliged  to  follow  him  out  of  the  woods  :  and  if  he  had 
presumed  to  admire  her  in  the  same  style  in  which  he 
had  guided  her,  she  felt  quite  sure  there  would  have 
been  a  sparring  match.  Besides — but  '  besides '  is  a 
feminine  postscript ;  it  would  be  a  breach  of  confidence 
to  translate  it. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   RED   SQUIRREL. 

ONE  brilliant  night,  Mr.  Falkirk  pacing  up  and 
down  the  piazza,  Wych  Hazel  came  and  joined 
him ;  clasping  both  hands  on  his  arm. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said  softly,  '  when  are  we  going  to 
Chickaree  ? ' 

'  I  have  no  information,  Miss  Hazel.' 

'Then  I  can  tell  you,  sir.  We  take  the  "owl"  stage 
day  after  to-morrow  morning, — and  we  tell  nobody  of 
our  intention.'  And  Wych  Hazel's  ringer  made  an  im- 
pressive little  dent  in  Mr.  Falkirk's  arm. 

'  Why  that  precaution  ? '  he  inquired. 

'  Pity  to  break  up  the  party,  sir, — they  seem  to  be  en- 
joying themselves,' — And  a  soft  laugh  of  mischief  and 
fun  rang  out  into  the  moonlight. 

'  Is  this  arrangement  expected  to  be  carried  into 
effect  ? ' 

'  Certainly,  sir.  If  my  guardian  approves,'  said  Miss 
Hazel,  submissively. 

'What's  become  of  her  other  guardian  ? '  said  an  old 
lady,  possessing  herself  of  Mr.  Falkirk's  left  arm. 


44 


WYCH    HAZEL. 


'  My  other  guardian ! '  said  the  young  lady,  expres- 
sively. 

'  She  has  no  other,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  very  distinctly. 

'  Have  you  broken  the  will  ? ' 

'  No  madam,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  As  it  often  happens 
in  this  world,  something  has  reached  your  ears  in  a 
mistaken  form.' 

'  What  something  was  it  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  A  false  report,  my  dear,'  Mr.  Falkirk  says.  Which 
did  not  quite  satisfy  the  questioner  at  the  time,  but  was 
soon  forgotten  in  the  rush  of  other  things. 

The  next  day  was  devoted  to  a  musical  pic-nic  at  the 
Falls.  It  was  musical,  in  as  much  as  a  band  had  been 
fetched  up  to  play  on  the  rocks,  while  the  company  fill- 
ed the  house  and  balcony,  and  an  occasional  song  or 
duet,  which  ladies  asked  for  '  just  to  see  how  they  would 
sound  there,'  kept  up  the  delusion.  By  what  rule  it 
was  a  pic-nic  it  might  be  difficult  to  discover,  except 
that  it  had  been  so  styled.  Eatables  and  drinkables 
were,  to  be  sure,  a  prominent  portion  of  the  entertain- 
ment, and  they  were  discussed  with  more  informality 
and  a  good  deal  less  convenience  than  if  in  their  regu- 
lar place.  But,  however,  the  rocks  and  the  wildness  lent 
them  a  charm,  perhaps  of  novelty,  and  the  whole  affair 
seemed  to  be  voted  a  success. 

Success  fell  so  largely  to  Miss  Hazel's  share,  that 
she  by  times  was  a  little  weary  of  it,  or  of  its  conse- 
quences ;  and  this  day  finding  herself  in  a  most  inevi- 
table crowd,  do  what  she  would,  she  fairly  ran  away  for 
a  breath  of  air  with  no  musk  in  it.  Making  one  or  two 
the  honoured  confidants  of  her  intention,  that  she  might 
secure  their  staying  where  they  were  and  keeping  others, 
and  promising  to  return  soon,  she  slipped  away  down 


THE   RED   SQUIRREL.  45 

the  stairs  by  the  Fall.  All  the  party  had  been  there 
that  morning,  as  in  duty  bound,  and  had  gone  where  it 
was  the  rule  to  go.  Now  Wych  Hazel  sprang  along  by 
herself,  to  take  the  wildness  and  the  beauty  in  silence 
and  at  her  own  pleasure.  At  the  upper  basin  of  the 
Fall  she  turned  off,  and  coasted  the  narrow  path  under 
the  rock,  around  the  basin.  At  the  other  side,  where 
the  company  had  been  contented  to  turn  about,  Wych 
Hazel  passed  on ;  till  she  found  herself  a  seat  on  a  pro- 
jecting rock,  from  which  a  wild,  wooded  ravine  of  the 
hills  stretched  out  before  her  eyes.  The  sides  were  so 
bold,  the  sweep  of  them  so  extended,  the  woods  so  luxuri 
antly  rich,  the  scene  so  desolate  in  its  loneliness  and 
wildness,  that  she  sat  down  to  dream  in  a  trance  of  enjoy- 
ment. Not  a  sound  now  but  the  plash  of  the  water,  the 
scream  of  a  wild  bird,  and  the  rustle  of  leaves.  Not  a  hu- 
man creature  in  sight,  or  the  trace  of  one.  \Yych  might 
imagine  the  times  when  red  Indians  roved  among  those 
hillsides — the  place  looked  like  them  ;  but  rare  were  the 
white  hunters  that  broke  their  solitudes.  It  was  deli- 
cious. The  very  air  that  fanned  her  face  had  come 
straight  from  a  wilderness,  a  wilderness  where  it  blew 
only  over  sweet  things.  It  refreshed  her,  after  those  peo- 
ple up  on  the  balcony.  She  had  promised  to  be  back 
soon :  but  now  a  rosy  flower,  or  spike  of  flowers,  of  tempt- 
ing elegance,  caught  her  eye.  It  was  down  below  her,  a 
little  way,  not  far ;  a  very  rough  and  steep  way,  but  no 
matter,  she  must  have  the  flower,  and  deftly  and  daintily 
she  clambered  down  :  the  flower  looked  lovelier  the  near- 
er she  got  to  it,  and  very  rare  and  exquisite  she  found  it 
to  be,  as  soon  as  she  had  it  in  her  hands.  It  was  not 
till  she  had  examined  and  rejoiced  over  it,  that  address- 
ing herself  to  go  back,  Wych  Hazel  found  her  retreat 


46  WYCH    HAZEL. 

cut  off.  Not  by  any  sudden  avalanche  or  obstacle,  ani- 
mate or  inanimate ;  as  peacefully  as  before  the  wind 
waved  the  ferns  on  the  great  stepping  stones  of  cliff  and 
boulder  by  which  she  had  come ;  but — the  agility  by 
which  with  help  of  vines  and  twigs  she  had  let  herself 
down  those  declivities,  was  not  the  strength  that  would 
mount  them  again.  It  was  impossible.  Wych  Hazel 
saw  that  it  was  impossible,  and  certainly  she  would 
never  have  yielded  the  conviction  but  to  dire  necessity. 
She  stood  considering  one  particular  jump  down  which 
she  had  made, — nothing  but  desperation  could  have 
taken  her  back  again. 

Desperate,  however,  Wych  Hazel  did  not  feel.  There 
was  nothing  to  do  at  present  but  to  wait  till  her  friends 
should  find  her  ;  for  to  go  further  down  would  but  add  to 
her  trouble  and  lessen  her  chance  of  being  soon  set  free, 
and  indeed,  from  her  present  position  even  to  go  down 
(voluntarily)  was  no  trifle.  So  Wych  Hazel  sat  down  to 
wait,  amusing  herself  with  thoughts  of  the  sensation  on 
the  cliff,  and  wondering  what  sort  of  scaling  ladders 
could  be  improvised  in  a  hurry.  They  would  be  sure  to 
come  after  her  presently.  Some  one  would  find  her. 
And  it  was  a  lovely  place  to  wait. 

How  it  happened  must  remain  like  other  mysteries, 
unexplained  till  the  mystery  is  over,  that  the  person 
who  did  find  her  again  happened  to  be  Mr.  Rollo.  Yet 
she  had  hardly  seen  him  all  day  before  that.  Wych 
Hazel  had  half  forgotten  her  situation  in  enjoying  its 
beauties  and  musing  in  accordance  with  them  ;  and 
then  suddenly  looking  up  to  the  great  piece  of  rock 
nearest  her,  she  saw  him  standing  there,  looking 
down  afher  with  the  calm  face  and  handsome  gray  eyes 
which  she  had  noticed  before.  The  girl  had  been  sing- 


THE   RED   SQUIRREL.  47 

ing  half  to  herself  a  wild  little  Scottish  ballad,  chiming  it 
in  with  water  and  wind  and  bird  music,  taking  first  one 
part  and  then  another ;  looping  together  a  long  chain  of 
pine  needles  the  while, — then  throwing  back  her  sleeve, 
and  laying  the  frail  work  across  her  arm,  above  the  tiny 
hair  chain,  the  broad  band  of  gems  and  the  string  of 
acorns,  which  banded  it ;  in  short,  disporting  herself 
generally.  But  not  the  "lullaby,  baby,  and  all,"  of  the 
old  rhyme,  ever  had  a  more  sudden  and  complete  down- 
fall. The  first  line  of 

"  O  wha  wad  buy  a  silken  goun 
Wi'  a  puir  broken  heart  ? " 

was  left  as  a  mere  abstract  proposition ;  and  \Y\vh 
Hazel  would  assuredly  have  '  slipped  from  her  moorings,' 
but  for  the  certain  fear  of  tearing  her  dress,  or  spraining 
her  ankle,  or  doing  some  other  bad  thing  which  should 
call  for  immediate  assistance.  So  she  sat  still  and 
gazed  at  the  prospect. 

Her  discoverer  presently  dropped  down  by  her  side 
and  stood  there  uncovered,  as  usual,  but  this  time  he  did 
not  withdraw  his  eyes  from  her  face.  And  when  he 
spoke  it  was  in  a  new  tone,  very  pleasant,  though  laying 
aside  a  certain  distance  and  form  with  which  he  had 
hitherto  addressed  her. 

'  Do  you  know,'  he  said, '  I  begin  to  think  I  have  known 
you  in  a  former  state  of  existence  ? ' 

'  What  sort  of  a  person  were  you  in  a  former  state,  Mr. 
Rollo  ? ' 

'  I  see  the  knowledge  was  not  mutual.  I  am  sorry. — 
This  is  a  pleasant  place  ! ' 

'  This  identical  grey  rock  ? ' 

'  Don't  you  think  so  ? ' — in  a  tone  which  assumed  the 
proposition. 


48  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Very,'  said  Wych  Hazel  with  a  demure  face ;— '  I  do 
not  know  which  abound  most — the  pleasures  of  Hope, 
Memory,  or  Imagination.  But  I  thought  perhaps  you 
meant  the  mountain.' 

'  The  pleasures  of  the  Present,  then,  you  do  not  per- 
ceive ? '  said  Mr.  Rollo,  peering  about  very  busily  among 
the  trees  and  rocks  in  his  vicinity. 

'  Poor  Hope  and  Imagination ! '  said  Miss  Hazel, — 
'  must  they  be  banished  to  the  "  former  state  ?  "  Memory 
does  hold  a  sort  of  middle  ground.' 

'  There  isn't  much  of  that  sort  of  ground  here,'  said 
Mr.  Rollo ;' we  are  on  a  pretty  steep  pitch  of  the  hill. 
Don't  you  like  this  wilderness  ?  You  want  a  gun  though 
— or  a  pencil — to  give  you  the  sense  that  you  have  some- 
thing to  do  in  the  wilderness.' 

'  Yes  ! '  said  Miss  Hazel — '  so  Englishmen  say :  "  What 
a  nice  day  it  is  ! — let's  go  out  and  kill  something."  ' 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  amusement  and  keenness  in 
his  sideway  glance,  as  he  demurely  asked  her  '  if  she 
didn't  know  how  to  shoot  ? '  But  Wych  Hazel,  with  a 
slight  gesture  of  her  silky  curls,  merely  remarked  that 
she  had  pencils  in  her  pocket — if  he  wanted  one. 

'  Thank  you — have  you  paper  too  ? ' 

'  Plenty.' 

'That  I  may  not  seem  intolerably  rude,'  said  he,  ex- 
tending his  hand  for  the  paper, — '  will  you  make  one 
sketch  while  I  make  another  ?  We  will  limit  the  time,  as 
they  did  at  the  London  Sketch  Club.' 

'O,  I  shall  not  think  it  even  tolerably  rude.  But  all 
my  paper  is  in  this  book.' 

'  To  secure  the  conditions,  I  must  tear  a  leaf  out. — 
How  will  that  do  ? ' 

'  Very  well,'  she  said  with  a  wee  flitting  of  colour, — 
'if  you  will  secure  my  conditions  too.' 


THE    RED    SQUIRREL.  49 

'  What  are  they  ? '  As  he  spoke  he  tore  the  leaf  out 
and  proceeded  to  accommodate  himself  with  a  pamphlet 
for  a  drawing  board. 

'  You  had  no  right  to  the  leaf  till  you  heard  them  ! ' 
she  cried  jumping  up.  '  I  shall  take  care  how  I  bar- 
gain with  you  again,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  Not  safe  ?  '  said  he  smiling.  '  But  you  are,  this  time, 
for  I  accepted  the  conditions,  you  know.  And  besides 
— you  have  the  pencils  yet.'  There  was  a  certain  gay 
simplicity  about  his  manner  that  was  disarming. 

'  Did  you  ? '  said  Hazel  looking  down  at  him.  '  Then 
vou  are  injudicious  to  accept  them  unheard.  One  of  them 
is  very  hard.  The  first  is  easy — you  are  to  restore  the 
leaf  when  the  sketch  is  done.' 

'  It  is  the  decree  of  the  strongest!     And  the  other? ' 

'  You  are  to  confess  my  sketch  to  be  the  best.  Now 
what  is  the  subject  to  be  ?  ' 

4  Stop  a  bit ! '  said  he,  turning  over  the  book  which 
Wych  Hazel  had  given  him  wrong  side  first — •'  I  should 
like  to  see  what  I  am  to  swear  to,  before  we  begin.'  And 
the  bits  of  her  drawing  which  were  found  there  received 
a  short  but  keen  consideration.  '  The  subject  ? — is  this 
grev  rock  where  we  are — with  what  is  on  and  around  it.' 

'You  are  lawless.  And  your  subject  is — unmanage- 
able ! ' 

'  Do  you  think  so  ? ' 

'  You  want  what  is  "  around  "  this  grey  rock,'  she  said 
with  a  light  twirl  on  the  tips  of  her  toes.  'If  your  views 
on  most  subjects  are  as  comprehensive ! ' — 

4They  can  be  met,  nevertheless,'  said  he,  laughing,  'if 
you  take  one  part  of  the  subject  and  I  the  other — and 
if  you'll  give  me  a  pencil !  We  must  be  done  in  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour.' 

4 


co  WYCH     HAZEL. 

'  There  it  is,'  said  Wych  Hazel, — :'  then  you  can  take 
half  the  rock' — and  she  walked  away  to  a  position  as  far 
behind  Mr.  Rollo  as  sweetbriars.and  sumach  would  per- 
mit. That  gentleman  turned  about  and  faced  her  grave- 
ly ;  also  withdrew  a  step,  looked  at  his  watch,  and  throw- 
ing on  his  hat  which  had  lain  till  now  on  the  moss, 
went  to  work.  It  was  work  in  earnest,  for  minutes  were 
limited. 

'  Mr.  Rollo  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  I  cannot  draw  a 
thing  if  you  sit  there  watching  me.  Just  take  your  first 
position,  please.' 

'  I  should  lose  my  point  of  view — you  would  not  ask 
me  to  do  that  ?  Besides,  you  are  safe — I  am  wholly 
occupied  with  myself.' 

'  No  doubt !  But  if  you  presume  to  put  me  in  your 
sketch  I'll  turnjw*  into  a  red  squirrel' — with  which  fierce 
threat  Miss  Hazel  drooped  her  head  till  her  'point  of 
view '  must  have  been  at  least  merged  in  the  brim  of  her 
flat  hat,  and  went  at  her  drawing.  That  she  had  merged 
herself  as  well  in  the  interest  of  the  game,  was  soon 
plain, — shyness  and  everything  else  went  to  the  winds  : 
only  when  (according  to  habit)  some  scrap  of  a  song 
broke  from  her  lips,  then  did  she  rebuke  herself  with  an 
impatient  gesture  or  exclamation,  while  the  hat  drooped 
lower  than  ever.  It  was  pretty  to  see  and  to  hear  her, 
— those  very  outbreaks  were  so  free  and  girlish  and  way- 
ward, and  at  the  same  time  so  sweet.  Several  minutes 
of  the  prescribed  time  slipped  away. 

'  How  soon  do  you  go  to  Chickaree  ? '  said  the  gentle- 
man, in  a  pre-engaged  tone,  very  busy  with  his  pencil. 

'  How  soon  ? '  repeated  the  lady,  surveying  her  own 
sketch — 'why — not  too  soon  for  anybody  that  wants  me 
away,  I  suppose.  Ask  Mr.  Falkirk.' 


THE    RED   SQUIRREL.  51 

'  Is  it  long  since  you  have  seen  the  place  ? ' 

'  I  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  "  seen  "  it  at  all.  I 
think  my  landscape  eyes  were  not  open  at  that  remote 
period  of  which  you  speak.' 

'I  was  a  red  squirrel  then,  in  the  "former  state  "  to 
\vhich  I  referred  a  while  ago.  So  you  see  your  late 
threat  has  no  terrors  for  me.  Is  it  in  process  of  execu- 
tion ? ' 

'O  were  you?'  said  Miss  Hazel,  absorbed  in  her 
drawing.  '  Yes — but  the  expression  is  very  difficult ! — 
Did  you  think  you  knew  me  as  a  field  mouse? ' 

He  laughed  a  little. 

'Then  I  suppose  you  have  not  the  pleasure  of  know- 
ing your  neighbours,  the  Marylands? — except  the  speci- 
men lately  on  hand?' 

'No,  I  have  heard  an  account  of  them,'  said  Miss 
Kennedy.  '  For  shame,  Mr.  Rollo,  Dr.  Maryland  isn't 
a  "specimen."  He's  good,  I  like  him.' 

The  gen:!eman  made  no  remark  upon  this,  but  con- 
fined his  atten.ion  to  his  work  for  a  few  minutes  ;  then 
looked  at  his  watch. 

'  Is  that  sketch  ready  to  show  ? — Time's  up,' 

'And  the  s  ;uirrel  is  down.     But  not  much  else.' 

Not  mu:h  ! — the  squirrel  sat  contemplatively  gazing 
into  Mr.  Rollo's  hat,  which  lay  on  the  rock  before  him, 
quite  undisturbed  by  a  remarkable  looking  witch  who 
rose  up  at  the  other  end.  The  gentleman  surveyed 
them  attentively. 

1  Do  you  consider  these  true  portraits  ? ' 

'  I  do  not  think  the  hat  would  be  a  tight  fit,'  said  she, 
smothering  a  laugh. 

'  Well ! '  said  he  comically,  '  it  is  said  that  no  man 
knows  himself — how  it  may  be  with  women  I  can't 


52  WYCH    HAZEL. 

say!'  And  he  made  over  the  sketch  in  his  hand  and 
went  to  his  former  work ;  which  had  been  cutting  a 
stick. 

There  was  more  in  this  second  sketch.  The  handling 
was  effective  as  it  had  been  swift.  Considering  that 
fifteen  minutes  and  a  lead  pencil  were  all,  there  had 
been  a  great  deal  done,  in  a  style  that  proved  use  and 
cultivation  as  well  as  talent.  The  rocks,  upper  and 
lower,  were  truly  given  ;  the  artist  had  chosen  a  differ- 
ent state  of  light  from  the  actual  hour  of  the  day,  and 
had  thus  thrown  a  great  mass  into  fine  relief.  Round 
it  the  ferns  and  mosses  and  creepers  with  a  light  hand 
were  beautifully  indicated.  But  in  the  nook  where 
Wych  Hazel  had  stationed  herself,  there  was  no  pretty 
little  figure  with  her  book  on  her  lap ;  in  its  place, 
sharply  and  accurately  given,  was  a  scraggy,  irregular 
shaped  bush,  with  a  few  large  leaves  and  knobby  excres- 
cences which  looked  like  acorns,  but  an  oak  it  was  not,still 
less  a  tree.  The  topmost  branch  was  crowned  with  Miss 
Kennedy's  nodding  hat,  and  upon  another  branch  lay 
her  open  drawing  book.  Miss  Kennedy  shook  her  head. 

'  I  cannot  deny  the  relationship  ! — Your  style  of 
handling  is  perhaps  a  trifle  dry.  That  is  not  what  you 
call  an  "  ideal  woman,"  is  it,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  I  might  fairly  retort  upon  that.  What  do  you  say 
to  our  moving  from  this  ground,  before  the  band  up 
there  gets  into  Minor  ? ' 

Retaking  of  a  sudden  her  demureness,  slipping  away 
to  her  first  position  on  the  rock,  with  hands  busy  about 
the  pink  flowers,  Wych  Hazel  answered,  as  once 
before — 

'  Do  not  let  me  detain  you — do  not  wait  for  me,  Mr. 
Rollo.' 


THE    RED    SQUIRREL.  53 

'  Shall  I  consider  myself  dismissed  ?  and  send  some 
more  fortunate  friend  to  help  you  out  of  your  difficulty  ? ' 

'  I  am  not  in  any  difficulty,  thank  you.' 

'  Only  you  don't  know  your  way,'  he  said,  with  perhaps 
a  little  amusement,  though  it  hardly  appeared.  '  Is  it 
true  that  you  will  not  give  me  the  honour  of  guiding  you  >' 

'  In  the  first  place,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  wreathing  her 
pink  flowers  with  quick  fingers,  '  I  know  the  .way  by 
which  I  came,  perfectly.  In  the  second  place,  I  never 
submit  voluntarily  to  anybody's  guidance.' 

'  Will  you  excuse  me  for  correcting  myself.  I  meant, 
in  "  not  knowing  your  way,"  merely  the  way  in  which 
you  are  to  go.' 

'  Do  you  know  it  ? ' 

'  If  you  suffer  my  guidance — undoubtedly.' 

'  Ah  ! — if.  In  that  case  so  do  I.  But  I  "  suffered  " 
so  much  on  the  last  occasion — and  Dr.  Maryland  has 
left  the  Mountain.' 

'  I  would  not  for  the  world  be  importunate !  Perhaps 
you  will  direct  me  if  I  shall  inform  any  one  of  your 
hiding  place — or  do  you  desire  to  have  it  remain  such  ? ' 

'  Thank  you,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  framing  the  landscape 
in  her  pink  wreath  and  gazing  at  it  intently,  '  I  suppose 
there  is  not  much  danger.  But  if  you  see  Mr.  Falkirk 
you  may  reveal  to  him  my  distressed  condition.  He 
needs  stimulus  occasionally.' 

Rollo  lifted  his  hat  with  his  usual  Spanish  courtesy; 
then  disappeared,  but  not  indeed  by  the  way  he  had  come. 
He  threw  himself  upon  an  outstanding  oak  branch,  from 
which,  lightly  and  lithely,  as  if  he  had  been  the  red 
squirrel  himself,  he  dropped  to  some  place  out  of  sight. 
One  or  two  bounds,  rustling  amid  leaves  and  branches 
and  he  had  gone  from  hearing  as  well  as  from  view. 


54  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Wych  Hazel  had  time  to  meditate.  Doubtless  she 
once  more  scanned  the  rocks  by  which  inexplicably  she 
had  let  herself  down  to  her  present  position;  but  in 
vain,  no  strength  or  agility  of  hers,  unaided,  could  avail 
to  get  up  them  again.  Indeed  it  was  not  easy  to  see 
how  aid  could  mend  the  matter.  Miss  Hazel  left  con- 
sidering the  question.  It  was  a  wild  place  she  was  in, 
and  wild  things  suited  it  :  the  very  birds,  unaccustomed 
to  disturbance,  hopped  near  her  and  eyed  her  out  of 
thei  •  bright  eyes.  If  they  could  have  given  somewhat  of 
their  practical  sageness  to  the  human  creature  they  were 
watching  !  Wych  Hazel  had  very  little  of  it,  and  just 
then,  in  truth,  would  have  chosen  their  wings  instead. 
She  did  not,  even  now,  in  their  innocent,  busy  manners, 
read  how  much  else  they  had  that  she  lacked  ;  though 
she  looked  at  them  and  at  all  the  other  wild  things. 
The  tree  branches  that  stretched  as  they  listed,  no  axe 
coming  ever  upon  their  freedom  ;  the  moss  and  lichens 
that  flourished  in  luxuriant  beds  and  pastures,  not 
breathed  on  by  even  a  naturalist's  breath  ;  the  rocks 
that  they  had  clothed  for  ages,  no  one  disturbing.  The 
very  cloud  shadows  that  now  and  then  swept  over  the 
ravine  and  the  hillside,  meeting  nothing  less  free  than 
themselves,  scarce  anything  less  noiseless,  seemed  to 
assert  the  whole  scene  as  Nature's  own.  Since  the 
days  of  the  red  men  nothing  but  cloud  shadows  had 
travelled  there  ;  the  nineteenth  century  had  made  no 
entrance,  no  wood-cutter  had  lifted  his  axe  in  the  forest ; 
the  mountain  streams,  that  you  might  hear  soft  rushing 
in  the  distance,  did  no  work  but  their  own  in  their  cita- 
del of  the  hills.  Wych  Hazel  had  time  to  consider  it 
all,  and  to  watch  more  than  one  shadow  walk  slowly 
from  end  to  end  of  the  long  stretch  of  the  moun- 


THE    RED    SQUIRREL.  55 

tain  valley,  before  she  heard  anything  else  than 
the  wild  noise  of  leaf  and  water  and  bird.  At  last 
there  came  something  more  definite,  in  the  sounds  of 
leaves  and  branches  over  her  head  ;  and  then  with  cer- 
tainly a  little  difficulty,  Mr.  Falkirk  let  himself  down  to 
her  standing  place.  To  say  that  Mr.  Falkirk  looked  in 
a  gratified  state  of  mind  would  be  to  strain  the  truth, 
though  his  thick  eyebrows  were  unruffled. 

'  How  did  you  get  here,  Wych  ? '  was  his  undoubtedly 
serious  inquiry. 

'  Oh  ! '  she  said,  jumping  up,  and  checking  her  own 
wild  murmurs  of  song, — '  My  dear  Mr.  Falkirk,  how  did 
you  ?  What  is  the  last  news  from  civilization  ? '  She 
looked  wild  wood  enough,  with  the  pink  wreath  round 
her  hat  and  her  curls  twisted  round  the  wind's  fingers. 

'  But  what  did  you  come  here  for  ? ' 

'  It's  a  pleasant  place,  sir — Mr.  Rollo  says.  I  was 
going  to  propose  that  you  and  I  should  have  a  joint 
summer  house  here,  with  strawberries  and  cream.  Mr. 
Falkirk,  haven't  you  a  bun  in  your  pocket  ? ' 

At  this  moment,  and  in  the  most  matter-of-fact  man- 
ner, presented  himself  her  red  squirrel  friend,  arriving 
from  nobody  knew  where  ;  and  bringing  not  only  him- 
self but  a  little  basket  in  which  appeared — precisely — 
biscuits  and  strawberries.  Silently  all  this  presented 
itself.  Wych  Hazel's  cheeks  rivalled  the  strawberries 
for  about  a  minute,  but  whether  from  stirred  vanity  or 
vexation  it  was  hard  to  tell. 

4  Mr.  Falkirk  ! '  she  cried,  '  are  all  the  rest  of  the  staff 
coming?  Here  is  the  Commissary — is  the  Quarter- 
master behind,  in  the  bushes  ? ' 

'  I  have  no  doubt  we  shall  find  him,'  said  Mr  Falkirk, 
dryly.  '  How  did  you  get  into  this  bird's  nest,  child  ? ' 


56  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'She  was  drawn  here,  sir, — by  a  red  squirrel.' 

'[  was  not  drawn  ! — Mr.  Falkirk,  what  are  they  about 
up  there,  besides  lamenting  my  absence.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  seemed  uneasy.  He  only  looked  at  the 
little  speaker,  busy  with  her  strawberries,  and  spoke  not, 
but  Rollo  answered  instead. 

'  They  are  looking  over  the  rocks  and  endeavouring  to 
compute  the  depth  to  the  bottom,  with  a  reference  to 
your  probable  safety.'  There  was  a  shimmer  of  light  in 
the  speaker's  eye. 

'  If  they're  taking  mathematical  views  of  the  subject, 
they  are  in  a  dangerous  way  !  Mr.  Falkirk,  it  is  imper- 
atively necessary  that  I  should  at  once  rejoin  the  rest  of 
society, — will  you  let  yourself  be  torn  from  this  rock, 
like  a  sea  anemone  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  had  been  for  a  few  minutes  taking  a 
minute  and  business-like  survey  of  the  place. 

'  I  see  no  way  of  getting  you  out,  Wych,'  he  said  de- 
sponclingly,  '  without  a  rope.  I  must  go  back  for  one,  I 
believe,  and  you  and  society  must  wait.' 

'  How  will  you  get  out,  sir  ? ' 

'  I  don't  know.     If  I  cannot,  I'll  send  Rollo.' 

'  Pray  send  him,  sir, — by  all  means.  ' 

'  I  can  get  you  out  without  a  rope,'  said  that  gentle- 
man, very  dispassionately. 

'  Pray  do,  then  ! '  said  the  other. 

'  There  is  a  step  or  two  here  of  roughness,  but  it  is 
practicable  ;  and  with  your  help  we  can  reach  smooth 
going  in  a  very  few  minutes.  A  little  below  there  is  a 
path.  Let  me  see  you  safe  down  first,  Mr.  Falkirk.  Can 
you  manage  that  oak  branch  ? — stop  when  you  get  to  the 
bottom — Stand  there,  now.' 

With  the  aid  of  his  younger  friend's  hand  and  eye> 


THE    RED    SQUIRREL.  57 

Mr.  Falkirk  made  an  abrupt  descent  to  the  place  indica- 
ted— a  ledge  not  very  far  but  very  sheer  below  them. 
From  a  position  which  looked  like  a  squirrel's,  mid  way 
on  the  rock  with  one  foot  on  the  oak,  Rollo  then  stretched 
out  his  hand  to  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Am  I  to  stop  when  I  get  to  the  bottom  ? — most 
people  like  to  do  it  before,'  she  said. 

'  You  must.  Come  a  little  lower  down,  if  you  please. 
Take  Mr.  Falkirk's  hand  as  soon  as  you  reach  footing. 

It  was  no  place  for  ceremony,  neither  could  she  help 
it.  As  she  spoke,  he  took  the  young  lady  in  both  hands 
as  if  she  had  been  a  parcel,  and  swung  her  lightly  and 
firmly,  though  it  must  have  been  with  the  exercise  of 
great  strength,  down  to  a  rocky  cleft  which  her  feet 
could  reach  and  from  which  Mr.  Falkirk's  hand  could 
reach  her.  Only  then  did  Mr.  Rollo's  hand  release  her  ; 
and  then  he  bounded  down  himself  like  a  cat.  Once 
more,  very  nearly  the  same  operation  had  to  be  gone 
through  ;  then  a  few  plunging  and  scrambling  steps 
placed  them  in  a  clear  path,  and  the  sound  of  the  waters 
of  the  fall  told  them  which  way  to  take.  With  that, 
Rollo  lifted  his  hat  again  gravely  and  fell  back  behind 
the  others.  Wrapping  herself  in  her  mood  as  if  it  had 
been  a  veil,  Wych  Hazel  likewise  bent  her  head  —  it 
might  have  been  to  both  gentlemen  ;  but  then  she  sped 
forward  at  a  rate  which  she  knew  one  could  not  and  the 
other  would  not  follow,  and  disappeared  among  the 
leaves  like  a.  frightened  partridge. 

What  was  she  like  when  they  reached  the  party  on 
the  height?  With  no  token  of  her  adventure  but  the 
pink  wreath  round  her  hat  and  the  pink  flush  under  it, 
Miss  Hazel  sat  there  a  la  reine;  Mr.  Kingsland  at  her 
feet,  a  circle  of  standing  admirers  on  all  sides  ;  her 


58  WYCH    HAZEL. 

own  immediate  attention  concentrated  on  a  thorn  in 
one  of  her  wee  fingers.  Less  speedily  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
followed  her  and  now  stood  at  the  back  of  the  group, 
silent  and  undemonstrative.  Rollo  had  gone  another 
way  and  was  not  any  longer  of  the  party. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


TO  Chickaree  by  the  stage  was  a  two-days'  journey. 
The  first  day  presented  nothing  remarkable.  Rollo 
was  their  only  fellow  traveller  whom  they  knew  ;  and  he 
did  nothing  to  lighten  the  tedium  of  the  way,  beyond 
the  ordinary  courtesies.  And  after  the  first  few  hours 
the  scenery  had  little  to  attract.  The  country  became  an 
ordinary  farming  district,  with  no  distinctive  features. 
Not  that  there  be  not  sweet  things  to  interest  in  such  a 
landscape,  for  a  mind  free  enough  and  eyes  unspoiled. 
There  are  tints  of  colouring  in  a  flat  pasture  field,  to 
feed  the  eye  that  can  find  them  ;  there  are  forms  and 
shadows  in  a  rolling  arable  country,  sweet  and  changing 
and  satisfying.  There  are  effects  in  tufts  of  spared 
woodland,  and  colours  in  wild  vegetation,  and  in  the 
upturned  brown  and  umber  of  fields  of  ploughed  earth, 
and  in  the  grey  lichened  rocks  and  the  clear  tints  of 
their  broken  edges.  There  are  the  associations  and  in- 
dications of  human  life,  too  ;  tokens  of  thrift  and  of 
poverty,  of  weary  toil  and  of  well-to-do  activity.  Where 
the  ploughs  go,  and  the  ploughmen ;  where  the  cattle  are 
driven  afield ;  where  the  farmyards  tell  how  they  are 


60  WYCH    HAZEL. 

housed  and  kept ;  where  the  women  sit  with  their  milk- 
ing pails  or  make  journeys  to  the  spring  ;  where  flowers 
trim  the  house-fronts,  or  where  the  little  yard-gate  says 
that  everything,  like  itself,  hangs  by  one  hinge.  A  good 
deal  of  life  stories  may  be  read  by  the  way  in  a  stage 
coach;  but  not  until  life  has  unfolded  to  us,  perhaps, 
its  characters  ;  and  so  Wych  Hazel  did  not  read  much 
and  thought  the  ride  tedious  and  long.  When  she  turn- 
ed to  her  companions,  Mr.  Falkirk  was  thoughtful  and 
silent,  Mr.  Rollo  silent  and  seemingly  self-absorbed, 
and  if  she  looked  at  the  other  occupants  of  the  coach — 
Wych  Hazel  immediately  looked  out  again. 

The  second  day  began  under  new  auspices.  None  of 
their  former  fellow  travellers  remained  with  them  ;  save 
only  Rollo  and  the  servants  ;  and  the  empty  places  were 
taken  by  a  couple  of  country  women,  one  young  and 
rustic,  the  other  elderly  and  ditto.  That  was  all  that 
Wych  Hazel  saw  of  them.  The  fact  that  one  of  the 
women  presently  fell  to  eating  gingerbread  and  the 
other  molasses  candy,  effectually  turned  all  Miss  Ken- 
nedy's attention  out  of  doors. 

The  cleared  country  was  left  behind;  and  the  coach 
entered  a  region  of  undisturbed  forest,  through  which  it 
had  many  miles  to  travel  before  reaching  civilization 
again.  The  view  was  shut  in.  The  trees  waved  over- 
head and  stretched  along  the  road  endlessly,  too  thick  for 
the  eye  to  penetrate  far.  The  coach  rumbled  on  mo- 
notonously. The  smell  of  pines  and  other  green  things 
came  sweet  and  odorous,  but.  the  day  was  hot,  and 
everything  was  dry ;  the  dust  rose  and  the  sunbeams 
poured  down.  Wych  Hazel  languished  for  a  change. 
Only  a  red  squirrel  now  and  then  reminded  her  what  a 
lively  life  she  led  a  day  or  two  ago.  And  Mr.  Falkirk 


SMOKE.  6l 

seemed  too  indifferent  to  mind  the  weather,  and  Rollo 
seemed  to  like  it !  She  was  very  weary.  Taking  off 
her  hat  and  leaning  one  hand  on  her  guardian's  shoul- 
der, she  rested  her  head  there,  too — looking  out  with  a 
sort  of  fascinated  intentness  into  the  hazy  atmosphere, 
which  grew  every  moment  thicker  and  bluer  and  more 
intensely  hazy.  It  almost  seemed  to  take  shape,  to 
her  eye,  and  to  curl  and  wave  like  some  animated 
thing  among  the  still  pines.  The  countrywomen  were 
dozing  now  ;  Mr.Rollo  and  Mr.  Falkirk  mused,  or  possi- 
bly dozed  too  ;  it  made  her  restless  only  to  look  at  them. 
Softly  moving  off  to  her  own  corner,  Wych  Ha/el 
leaned  out  of  the  window.  Dark  and  still  and  blue — 
veiled  as  ever,  the  pines  rose  up  in  endless  succession 
by  the  roadside  ;  a  yellow  carpet  of  dead  leaves  at 
their  feet,  the  woodpeckers  busy,  the  squirrels  at  play 
over  their  work.  How  free  they  all  were  ! — with  what  a 
sweet  freedom.  No  danger  that  the  brown  rabbit  darting 
away  from  his  form,  would  ever  transgress  pretty  limits  ! 
— no  fear  that  vanity  or  folly  or  ill-humor  would  ever 
touch  the  grace  of  those  grey  squirrels.  As  for  the  red 
ones! — Miss  Hazel  brought  her  attention  to  the  inside 
of  the  coach  for  a  minute,  but  the  sight  gave  only  colour 
and  no  check  to  her  musings.  How  strange  of  that 
partictil.ir  red  squirrel  to  follow  her  steps  as  he  had  done 
tli2  other  dav — to  follow  her  steps  now,  as  she  more 
than  half  suspected.  What  did  he  mean  ?  And  what 
did  she  mean  by  her  own  deportment?  Nothing,  she 
declared  to  herself: — but  that  red  squirrels  will  bite  oc- 
casionally. There  swept  over  her,  sighing  from  among 
the  pine  trees,  the  breath  of  a  vague  sorrow.  In  all  the 
emergencies  that  might  come,  in  all  that  future  progress, 
also  dim  with  its  own  blue  haze,  what  was  she  to  do  ! 


62  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Mr.  Falkirk  could  take  care  of  her  property, — who 
could  take  care  of  her  ?  Deep  was  the  look  of  her 
brown  eyes,  close  and  controlling  the  pressure  of  her 
lips  :  the  wrist  where  the  three  bracelets  lay  felt  the 
tight  grasp  of  her  other  hand. 

The  ccfach  rolled  on,  through  thickening  air  and  dark- 
ening sky,  air  thick  also  with  a  smell  of  smoke  which  it 
was  odd  no  one  took  note  of ;  until  the  horses  trotted 
round  a  sudden  turn  of  the  road  into  the  very  cause  of 
it  all.  The  blue  was  spotted  now  with  faint  red  fire  ; 
with  dull  streaks  as  of  beds  of  coals,  and  little  sharp 
points  of  flame.  On  both  sides  of  the  road,  creeping 
among  the  pines  and  leaping  up  into  them,  the  fire  was 
raging.  A  low  sound  from  Wych  Hazel,  a  sound  rather 
of  horror  than  fear,  yet  curiously  pitiful  and  heart-stirring, 
roused  both  her  friends  in  an  instant.  Almost  at  the 
same  instant  the  coach  came  to  a  standstill,  and  Rollo 
jumped  out. 

'  What's  the  matter,  Rollo  ?  ' 

'  Fire  in  the  woods,  sir.  We  must  turn  about ;  that's  all.' 

The  elder  of  the  two  women,  who  had  just  waked  up, 
asked  with  a  terrified  face,  '  if  there  was  any  danger  ? ' 
but  nobody  answered  her.  Rollo  took  his  seat  again  • 
at  the  same  time  the  horses'  heads  came  about. 

'  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  '  she  demanded. 

'  We  are  going  back  a  little  way.  There  is  fire  along 
the  road  ahead  of  us  ;  and  the  horses  might  set  their 
feet  upon  some  hot  ashes,  which  wouldn't  be  good  for 
them.' 

'  But  we're  goin'  back'ards  ! — where  we  come  from  1 
Clary,  we're  goin'  back  hum  ! ' 

'  We  shall  turn  again  presently,'  said  Rollo.  '  Have 
patience  a  few  minutes.' 


SMOKE.  63 

He  spoke  so  calmly,  the  women  were  quieted.  Mr. 
Falkirk,  however,  leaned  back  no  more.  He  watched 
the  hazy  smoke  by  the  roadside  ;  he  watched  generally ; 
and  now  and  then  his  eye  furtively  turned  to  Wych  Ha- 
zel. For  some  little  time  they  travelled  back  hopefully 
on  their  way,  though  the  smoky  atmosphere  was  too 
thick  to  let  any  one  forget  the  obstacle  which  had  turned 
them.  It  grew  stifling,  breathed  so  long,  and  it  did  not 
clear  away  ;  but  though  every  one  noticed  this,  no  one 
spoke  of  it  to  his  neighbour.  Then  at  last  it  began  to 
weigh  down  more  heavily  upon  the  forest,  and  visible 
puffs  and  curls  in  the  dense  blue  suggested  that  its  sub- 
stance was  becoming  more  palpable. 

'  Rollo — ',  said  Mr.  Falkirk  in  an  undertone. 

'  Yes ! '  said  the  other,  just  as  the  coach  again  came 
to  a  sudden  stop  and  a  volley  of  exclamations,  smoth- 
ered and  not  smothered,  sounded  from  the  coach  box. 
Both  gentlemen  sprang  out. 

'  Good  patience  ! '  said  the  older  of  the  two  women, 
'  it's  the  fire  again  !  it's  all  round  us  ! '  O  I  wisht  I  hadn't 
a'come  !  I  wisht  I  was  to  hum  !  ' — and  she  showed 
the  earnestness  of  the  wish  by  beginning  to  cry.  Her 
companion  sat  still  and  turned  very  pale.  Paler  yet,  but 
with  every  nerve  braced,  Wych  Hazel  stood  in  the  road 
to  see  for  herself.  The  gentlemen  were  consulting. 

The  fire  had  closed  in  upon  the  road  they  had  passed 
over  an  hour  or  two  before.  There  it  was,  smoking,  and 
breathing  along,  gathering  strength  ever)-  minute  ;  while 
a  low,  murmuring  roar  told  of  its  out-of-sight  progress. 
What  was  to  be  done  ?  The  driver  declared,  on  being 
pressed,  that  a  branch  road,  the  Lupin  road  it  was 
called,  was  to  his  knowledge  but  a  little  distance  before 
them  ;  a  quarter  of  an  hour  would  reach  it. 


64  WYCH    HAZEL.    . 

'  Drive  on,  then,' —  said  Rollo,  turning  to  put  VVych 
Hazel  into  the  coach. 

The  man  mumbled,  that  he  did  not  know  whether  his 
horses  would  go  through  the  fire. 

*  /  know.  They  will.  We  will  go  straight  on.  You 
are  not  afraid,'  he  said,  meeting  Hazel's  eyes  for  a  mo- 
ment. It  was  not  more  than  half  a  second,  but  nature's 
telegraph  works  well  at  such  instants.  Wych  Hazel  saw 
an  eye  steady  and  clear,  which  seemed  to  brave  danger 
and  not  know  confusion.  He  saw  a  wistful  face,  with 
the  society  mask  thrown  by,  and  only  the  girl's  own  child- 
ish self  remaining. 

'  Afraid  to  go  on  ?  no,'  she  said  ;  and  then  felt  a 
scarcely  defined  smile  that  warmed  his  eyes  and  brow  as 
he  answered,  'There  is  no  need' — and  put  her  into  the 
coach.  In  both  touch  and  tone  there  lay  a  promise  ; 
but  she  had  no  time  to  think  of  it.  The  coach  was  mov- 
ing on  ag.iin  ;  the  woman  were  very  frightened,  and  cried 
and  moaned  by  way  of  relieving  their  feelings  at  the  ex- 
pense of  other  people's.  Mrs.  Saddler,  who  had  hither- 
to used  only  her  eyes,  now  clasped  her  fingers  together 
and  fell  to  the  muttering  of  short  prayers  over  and  over 
under  her  breath,  the  urgency  of  which  redoubled  when 
the  coach  had  gone  a  little  further  and  the  fire  and 
smoke  began  to  wreathe  thicker  on  both  sides  of  the 
road. 

'  There  is  no  occasion,  Mrs.  Saddler,'  said  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk  somewhat  sternly.  '  Be  quiet,  and  try  to  show  an 
example  of  sense  to  your  neighbours.' 

'  Did  you  never  say  your  prayers  before  ? '  said  Rollo 
turning  towards  her ;  they  sat  on  the  same  seat.  He  spoke 
half  kindly,  half  amused,  but  with  that  mingled — though 
ever  so  slightly — an  expression  of  meaning  more  pun- 


SMOKE.  65 

gent ;  all  together  overcame  Mrs.  Saddler.  She  burst  into 
a  fit  of  tears,  which  nervousness  made  uncontrollable. 

'  What  have  I  done  ? '  said  the  young  man  as  the 
weeping  became  general  at  his  end  of  the  coach.  '  It  is 
dangerous  to  meddle  with  edge  tools  !  Come,  cheer  up  1 
we  shall  leave  all  this  smoke  behind  us  in  a  few  minutes. 
You'll  see  clear  directly.' 

His  tone  was  so  calm  the  women  took  courage  from 
it,  and  ventured  to  use  their  eyes  again.  The  stage-coach 
had  left  the  burning  road  ;  they  were  going  across  the 
woods  in  another  direction  ;  the  air  was  soon  visibly 
more  free  of  smoke.  The  driver  was  hopeful,  a:vl  send- 
ing his  horses  along  at  a  good  pace.  The  shower  wi:h- 
inside  dried  up  ;  and  Rollo  throwing  himself  back  upon 
the  seat  gazed  steadfastly  out  of  the  window.  Wycli 
Hazel  had  gazed  at  him  while  he  spoke  to  the  others, 
with  a  sort  of  examining  curiosity  in  her  brown  eyes 
that  was  even  amused  ;  but  now  she  became  as  intent  as 
himself  on  afLiirs  outside  of  the  coach. 

For  a  while  all  was  quiet.  Mrs.  Sad.ller  sat  in  brown 
stupefaction  after  having  received  such  rebukes,  and  no 
more  apples  were  brought  forward  on  the  front  seat. 
The  women  whispered  together  and  watched  their  fellow- 
travellers — Rollo  especially.  But  at  length  it  became 
evident  to  the  keener  observers  of  the  party  that  the 
air  was  thickening  again  ;  the  smell  of  burning  woods 
which  rilled  the  air  was  growing  more  pungent,  the  air 
more  warm  ;  those  visible  waves  of  the  blue  atmosphere 
began  to  appear  again.  Once  Mr.  Falkirk  leaned  for- 
ward as  if  to  address  Rollo  ;  he  thought  better  of  it  and 
fell  back  without  speaking.  And  on  they  went.  The 
smell  of  burning  and  the  thick  stifling  smoke  became 
very  oppressive.  5 


66  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  There  is  a  large  tract  on  fire,  Rollo,'  Mr.  Falkirk 
remarked  at  length. 

'  Probably.' 

In  another  minute  the  coach  halted.  Rollo  put  his 
head  out  of  the  window  to  speak  to  the  coachman,  and 
the  cool  tone  in  which  he  asked,  '  What  is  it  ? '  Wych 
Hazel  felt  at  the  time  and  remembered  afterwards.  The 
driver's  answer  was  unheard  by  all  but  one.  Rollo 
threw  himself  out. 

'  Stay  where  you  are,'  he  said  to  Mr.  Falkirk  as  he 
shut  the  door.  « You  keep  order  and  I'll  make  order.' 

He  went  forward.  The  coach  stood  still,  with  that 
fearful  wreathing  of  blue  vapour  thicker  and  nearer 
around  it.  The  smell  became  so  strong  that  the  thought 
forced  itself  upon  every  one,  they  must  have  come  upon 
the  fire  again.  The  women  wanted  to  get  out.  Mr. 
Falkirk  dissuaded  them.  Wych  Hazel  kept  absolutely 
still.  In  a  moment  or  two  Rollo  appeared  at  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk's  side  of  the  coach,  and  spoke  rather  low.  '  I  am 
going  to  make  explorations.  Keep  all  as  you  are.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  spoke  lower  still.     '  Is  the  fire  ahead  ? ' 

The  answer  was  not  in  English  or  French.  Looking 
from  her  window  as  far  as  she  could,  Wych  Hazel  now 
saw  Rollo  cross  the  road  and  make  for  a  tall  pine  which 
stood  at  a  little  distance.  She  saw  him  throw  his  coat  and 
hat  on  the  ground  ;  then  catching  one  of  the  long  lithe 
branches  he  was  in  a  moment  off  the  ground  and  in  the 
tree  ;  yes,  and  making  determinately  for  the  top  of  it. 
The  '  red  squirrel '  had  hot  learnt  climbing  for  nothing  ; 
agile,  steady,  quick,  he  mounted  and  mounted.  She  grew 
dizzy  with  looking.  Mr.  Falkirk  had  not  the  same  view. 

'What's  he  doing?  what  are  we  waiting  for  ?  Can  you 
see  ? '  he  asked  impatiently. 


SMOKE.  67 

'  Yes — they  are  trying  to  find  out  which  way  to  go, 
sir.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  made  a  movement  as  if  to  get  out  him- 
self ;  then  checked  it,  seeing  the  helpless  bevy  of  women 
who  were  dependent  on  him  and  now  in  the  utmost  pertur- 
bation. Standing  still  tried  their  nerves.  To  keep  order 
withinside  the  coach  was  as  much  as  he  could  attend  to. 
Cries  and  moans  and  questions  of  involved  incoherency, 
poured  upon  him.  Would  they  ever  get  home  ?  would 
the  fire  catch  the  coach  ?  would  it  frighten  the  horses  ? 
what  were  they  stopping  for  ? — were  some  of  the  simplest 
inquiries  that  Mr.  Falkirk  had  to  hear  and  answer;  in 
the  midst  of  which  one  of  the  ladies  assured  herself  and 
him  that  if  '  Isaiah  had  come  along  with  them  they 
would  never  have  got  into  such  a  fix.'  Mrs.  Saddler 
Mr.  Falkirk  peremptorily  silenced  ;  the  others  he  sooth- 
ed as  best  he  might ;  and  all  the  while  Wych  Hazel 
watched  the  signs  without,  and  followed  the  climber  in 
the  pine  tree,  following  him  in  his  venturesome  ascent 
and  descent,  which  were  both  made  with  no  lack  of  dar- 
ing. He  was  on  the  ground  at  last,  swinging  himself 
from  the  end  of  a  pine  branch  which  he  had  compelled 
into  his  service  ;  he  came  straight  to  Mr.  Falkirk,  heat- 
ed, but  mentally  as  cool  as  ever. 

'I  see  our  way,'  he  said,  ;  I  am  going  on  the  box  my- 
self.' Don't  be  concerned.  I  have  driven  a  post-coach 
in  England.' 

He  looked  across  to  Wych  Hazel,  as  he  spoke,  and 
his  eye  carried  the  promise  again.  Wych  Hazel  met 
his  look,  though  with  no  answer  in  her  own  ;  fear,  or 
self-control,  or  something  back  of  both,  made  the  very 
lines  of  her  face  still  ;  only  a  sort  of  shiver  of  feeling 
passed  over  them  as  he  said,  '  Don't  be  concerned.'  All 


68  WYCH    HAZEL. 

this  passes  in  a  second  ;  then  Rollo  is  on  the  box  with 
the  stage  driver  and  the  stage  is  in  motion  again.  But 
it  is  motion  straight  on  to  where  Wych  Hazel  has  seen 
that  the  smoke  is  thickest.  The  horses  go  fast ;  they 
know  that  another  hand  has  the  reins  ;  the  ground  is 
swiftly  travelled  over.  Now  the  puffs  of  smoke  roll 
out  round  and  defined  from  the  burning  woodland  ;  and 
then,  above  the  rattle  of  wheels  and  tread  of  hoofs,  is 
heard  another  sound, — a  spiteful  snapping  and  crackling, 
faint  but  increasing.  Can  the  air  be  borne  ? — it  is  hard 
to  breathe  ;  and  flame,  yes,  flame  is  leaping  from  the 
dried  leaves  and  curling  out  here  and  there  from  a  tree. 
Mrs.  Saddler  put  her  head  out  of  the  coach. 

'  Oh,  sir  ! '  she  shrieked,  '  he  is  taking  us  right  into  it ! 
O  stop  him  !  we'll  be  burned,  sure  !  it's  all  fire — it's  all 
fire!' 

The  chorus  of  shrieks  became  now  almost  a  worse 
storm  within  than  the  tempest  of  fire  which  was  raging 
without.  The  women  were  wild.  It  was  an  awful  mo- 
ment for  everybody.  The  fire  had  full  possession  on 
both  sides  of  the  road,  viciously  sparkling  and  crackling 
and  throwing  out  jets  of  flames  and  volumes  of  smoke, 
threatening  to  dispute  the  way  with  the  stage  coach  ; 
yet  through  it  lay  the  only  way  to  safety.  It  could  not 
be  borne  long  ;  the  horses,  urged  by  a  hand  that  knew 
how  to  apply  all  means  of  stimulus  and  spared  none, 
drew  the  coach  along  at  a  furious  speed.  The  speed 
alone  was  distracting  to  the  poor  women,  who  had  nevjr 
known  the  like  ;  the  coach  seemed  to  them,  doubtless, 
hastening  to  destruction.  Their  shrieks  were  uncontrol- 
lable ;  and  indeed  no  topics  of  comfort  could  be  urged, 
when  manifestly  they  were  fleeing  for  their  lives  from  the 
fire,  and  the  fire  on  every  side,  before  and  behind  them, 


SMOKE.  69 

was  threatening  with  fearful  assertion  of  power  that  they 
should  not  escape.  How  swiftly  thoughts  careered 
through  the  mind  of  the  one  silent  member  of  the  com- 
pany— thoughts  like  those  quick  flashes  of  flame,  those 
dark  curls  of  smoke.  The  questions  she  had  been  de- 
bating two  hours  before — were  they  all  to  have  one  short, 
sharp  answer  ? — And  what  would  become  of  her  then  ? 
Were  such  days  as  the  one  before  yesterday  forever 
ended?  How  would  it  feel  to  be  caught  and  wreathed 
about  like  one  of  those  pines — how  would  Mr.  Rollo 
feel  to  see  it — and  what  if  all  the  rest  should  be  dead, 
there  in  the  fire,  and  she  only  half  dead  ;  together  with 
a  strange  impatience  to  know  the  worst  and  endure  the 
worst.  She  had  drawn  back  a  little  from  the  window, 
driven  in  by  the  scorching  air,  but  looked  out  still  with 
both  hands  up  to  shield  her  eyes.  She  did  not  know 
into  what  pitiful  lines  her  mouth  had  shaped  itself,  nor 
what  faintness  and  sickness  were  creeping  over  her  with 
every  breath  of  that  smoke.  The  time  was,  after  all, 
not  long;  but  in  the  thickest  of  the  fire,  when  the  smoke 
literally  choked  up  the  way  before  the  horses'  eyes,  the 
animals  suddenly  stopped  ;  from  a  furious  speed,  the 
coach  came  to  a  blank  stand-still.  A  voice  was  heard 
from  the  coach-box  cheering  the  horses — but  the  dead 
pause  continued.  And  now  when  the  rattle  of  the  wheels 
ceased,  the  sweep  of  the  fiery  storm  could  be  heard  and 
felt.  A  wind  had  risen,  or  more  likely  was  created  by 
the  great  draught  of  the  fire  ;  and  its  rush  through  the 
woods,  driving  the  flames  before  it,  and  catching  up  the 
clouds  of  smoke  to  pile  them  upon  the  faces  and  throats 
of  the  travellers  was  with  a  hiss  and  a  fury  and  a  blinding 
which  came  like  the  malice  of  a  spiteful  thing.  It  was 
almost  impossible  to  breathe  ;  and  yet  the  coach  stood 


70  WYCH    HAZEL. 

still !  A  half-minute  seemed  the  growth  of  a  year.  The 
women  became  frantic  ;  Mr.  Falkirk  kept  them  in  the 
coach  by  the  sheer  exertion  of  force.  Wych  Hazel  in 
vain  strained-  her  eyes  to  see  through  the  smoke  what 
the  detaining  cause  was. 

The  horses  had  been  scared  at  last  by  the  fire  crack- 
ling and  snapping  in  their  faces,  and  confounded  by  the 
clouds  of  smoke.  Bewildered,  they  had  stopped  short; 
and  voice  and  whip  were  powerless  against  fear.  That 
was  a  moment  never  to  be  forgotten,  at  least  by  those 
withinside  the  stage-coach,  who  could  do  nothing  but 
wait  and  scream. 

'  Hush  !  the  horses  are  frightened  :  that  is  all,'  said 

Mr.  Falkirk.  '  He's what's  he  doing,  Wych  ?  — yes,' 

he's  blinding  the  leaders  ;  that's  it.  There  ! ' 

The  intense  anxiety  which  was  smothered  in  every 
one  of  these  words,  Wych  Hazel  long  remembered. 
They  saw,  as  he  spoke,  they  could  see  Rollo  at  the 
horse's  heads,  going  from  one  to  the  other  ;  they  saw 
him  dimly  through  the  smoke  ;  they  caught  the  light  of 
something  white  in  his  hand.  Mr.  Falkirk  had  guessed 
right.  Then  they  saw  Rollo  throw  himself  postillion- 
wise  upon  one  of  the  leaders.  In  another  moment  the 
coach  moved,  doubtfully ;  then  amid  the  rush  and  roar 
they  could  hear  the  cheer  of  their  charioteer's  voice, 
and  the  frightened  animals  plunged  on  again.  Presently, 
encouraged  perhaps  by  a  little  opening  in  the  smoke,  they 
dished  forward  as  heartily  as  ever,  and — yes — the 
smoke  was  less  thick  and  the  air  less  dark,  and  momen- 
tarily brightening.  The  worst  was  over.  Surely  the  worst 
was  over,  but  the  travellers  drew  breath  if  freer  yet  fear- 
fully, till  the  lessening  cloud  and  disappearing  fire  and 
stillness  in  the  woods,  said  they  had  left  the  danger  be 


SMOKE.  71 

hind.  Black  charred  stems  and  branches  began  to  show 
what  had  been  where  they  now  were  ;  little  puffs  of 
grey  smoke  from  half  consumed  tufts  of  moss  and  old 
stumps  of  great  trees  were  all  that  was  left  of  the  army 
of  fire  that  had  marched  that  way. 

The  horses  were  brought  back  to  a  moderate  going. 
A  quieting  of  the  storm  within  accompanied  the  pass- 
ing away  of  the  storm  without.  Fairly  overcome  now, 
dizzy  besides  with  the  almost  flaming  current  which  had 
blown  full  against  her  in  that  last  charge  through  the 
fire,  Wych  Hazel  drooped  her  head  lower  and  lower  till 
it  rested  on  the  sill  of  the  window  ;  but  no  one  marked 
just  then.  The  women  were  drying  their  eyes  and  ut- 
tering little  jets  of  excited  or  thankful  exclamation. 
Mr.  Falkirk  watched  from  his  window  what  was  to  be 
done  next. 

'  We'll  have  to  put  up,  if  it  be  onconvenient,'  said  the 
driver.  '  Can't  ask  a  team  to  do  more'n  that  at  a  time, 
sir.  'Tain't  no  tavern,  neither — but  there's  Siah  Sulli- 
van's ;  he's  got  fodder,  and  food,  allays,  for  a  friend  in 
need.' 

'  How  far  is  Lupin  ? '  called  out  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Aren't 
we  on  the  Lupin  road  ? ' 

'  Na — it's  a  good  bit  'tother  side  o'  that  'ere  flamin' 
pandemony,  sir,  Lupin's.' 

'  No  it  isn't !  I  mean  Lupin,  where  Braddock's  mill 
used  to  be — old  John  Braddock's.' 

'  Taint  called  Lupin  now,'  observed  the  driver, — 'that 
ere's  West  Lupinus.  Wai — John  Braddock's  there  now; 
it's  four  or  five  mile  straight  ahead.' 

'  We  can  go  there,'  said  Rollo.  '  That  will  give  us 
the  best  chance.' 

Gently  they  took  those  three  or  four  miles.     The  open 


72  WYCH    HAZEL. 

country  to  which  they  soon  came,  getting  out  of  the 
woods,  looked  very  lovely  and  peaceful  to  them  ;  the 
fire  had  not  been  there,  and  quiet  sunshine  lay  along 
the  fields.  In  the  last  mile  or  two  the  fields  gave  place 
again  to  broken  country  ;  a  brawling  stream  was  heard 
and  seen  by  intervals,  black  and  chafing  over  a  rocky 
bed.  Then  the  road  descended  sharply,  among  thick 
leafage,  fresh  and  fair,  not  pine  needles  ;  and  finally  at 
the  bottom  of  the  descent  the  stage  stopped. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE    MILL    FLOOR. 

THE  place  was  a  deil  in  the  woods,  the  bottom  fill- 
ed with  a  dark,  clear  little  lake.  At  the  lower  end 
of  it  stood  the  mill  ;  picturesque  enough  under  the  trees, 
with  its  great  doors  opening  upon  the  lake.  On  the 
floor  within  could  be  seen  the  bags  of  flour  and  grain 
piled  about,  and  the  miller  passing  to  and  fro.  It  was  deep- 
ly still  ;  the  light  came  cool  and  green  through  the  oaks 
and  maples  and  ashes  ;  the  trickling  of  water  was  heard. 
Dark  slept  the  little  lake,  overshadowed  by  the  leafy 
banks  which  shut  it  in;  the  only  ciiief  spot  of  light  was 
the  miller's  open  door,  where  the  sunbeams  lit  up  his 
bags  and  him  ;  the  mill-stream  brawled  away  somewhere 
below,  and  beyond  the  mill  the  road  curled  away  out  of 
sight  to  mount  the  hill  again.  This  was  Braddock's  mill. 

Mr.  Falkirk  got  out,  and  then  Mr.  Rollo  helped  out 
the  women  and  Mrs.  Saddler,  who  was  confused  out  of 
all  her  proprieties,  for  she  pushed  before  her  young 
lady  ;  finally  Wych  Hazel. 

'  How  do  you  do  ? '  said  he,  scanning  her. 

Apparently  the  dizziness  had  not  gone  off,  for  she 
raised  her  head  and  came  out  of  the  coach  in  the  slow- 


74  WYCH    HAZEL. 

est  and  most  mechanical  way,  lifting  her  hand  and  push- 
ing back  her  hair  with  a  weary  sort  of  gesture  as  he 
spoke.  So  weary  her  face  was,  so  utterly  subdued,  it 
might  have  touched  anybody  to  see  it.  It  never  seemed 
to  occur  to  her  that  the  question  needed  an  answer. 

'  Your  best  chance  is  the  mill,'  said  he  ;  'I  think  you 
can  rest  there.  At  any  rate,  it  is  your  chance.' 

He  put  her  hand  upon  his  arm  and  led  her  down  the 
few  steps  of  rocky  way  to  the  mill  door.  Mr.  Falkirk 
followed.  The  women  had  paired  off  to  seek  the  mil- 
ler's house,  out  of  sight  above  on  the  bank.  Only  Mrs. 
Saddler  came  after  Mr.  Falkirk. 

The  mill  floor  was  large,  cool  and  clean  ;  that  is,  in 
the  shade,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  dust  of  flour 
on  everything.  Mr.  Falkirk  entered  into  explanations 
with  the  miller ;  while  Rollo,  after  a  brief  word  of  leave- 
asking,  proceeded  to  arrange  a  pile  of  grain  bags  so  as 
to  form  an  extempore  divan.  Harder  might  be  ;  and 
over  it  he  spread  the  gentlemen's  linen  dusters  and  all 
the  travelling  shawls  of  the  party ;  and  upon  it  then 
softly  placed  Wych  Hazel.  Poor  child  !  she  was  used 
to  cushions,  and  in  need  of  them,  from  the  way  she 
dropped  down  among  these.  She  had  thrown  off  her 
hat,  and  Mr.  Falkirk  stopped  and  unfastened  her  mantle, 
and  softly  began  to  pull  off  one  of  her  gloves  ;  the  mil- 
ler's daughter,  a  fair,  plump,  yellow-haired  damsel,  coming 
out  from  among  the  grain  bins,  began  upon  the  other. 

'  What's  happened  here  ? '  said  she,  pityingly. 

'Have  you  anything  this  lady  could  eat;  was  the 
counter  question.  '  She  is  exhausted ;  fire  in  the  woods 
drove  us  out  of  the  way.' 

'  Do  tell !  I  heard  say  the  woods  was  all  afire.  Why 
there's  enough  in  the  house,  but  it  ain't  here.  We  live 


THE   MILL   FLOOR.  75 

up  the  hill  a  ways.  I'll  start  and  fetch  something — only 
say  what.  O  here's  this,  if  she's  fainted.' — And  pro- 
ducing a  very  amulet-looking  bottle  of  salts,  suspended 
round  her  neck  by  a  blue  ribband,  she  at  once  admin- 
istered a  pretty  powerful  whiff.  With  great  suddenness 
Wych  Hazel  laid  hold  of  the  little  smelling  bottle,  open- 
ing her  brown  eyes  to  their  fullest  extent  and  exclaim- 
ing : 

'  What  in  the  world  are  you  all  about ! ' 

'Ah!'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  'Get  what  you  can  my 
good  girl ;  only  don't  stand  about  it.  Can  you  give 
her  a  glass  of  milk  ?  or  a  cup  of  tea  ? ' 

The  girl  left  them  and  sprang  away  up  the  path  at 
a  rate  that  showed  her  good  will,  followed  by  Rollo- 
Arrived  at  the  miller's  house,  which  proved  a  poor  little  af- 
fair, the  cup  of  tea  was  hastily  brewed  ;  and  Rollo  having 
contrived  to  find  out  pretty  well  the  resources  of 
the  family  in  that  as  well  as  in  other  lines  of  ac- 
commodation, and  having  despatched  along  with  the 
tea  whatever  he  thought  might  stand  least  chance  of 
being  refused,  left  the  miller's  daughter  to  convey  it,  and 
betook  himself  to  his  own  amusements. 

The  meal  was  not  much.  But  when  it  was  over  Wych 
Hazel  found  a  better  refreshment  and  one  even  more 
needed  just  then.  Mrs.  Saddler  at  a  little  distance 
nodded  and  dreamed  ;  Mr.  Falkirk  also  had  moved  off 
and  at  least  made  believe  rest.  Then  did  his  ward  take 
the  comfort,  a  rare  one  to  her,  of  pouring  out  a  mind- 
ful to  somebody  of  her  own  sex  and  age.  It  was  only 
to  the  little  miller's  daughter  ;  yet  the  true  honest  face 
and  rapt  attention  made  amends  for  all  want  of  conven- 
tionalities. 

'  What  did  you  get  that  salts  for  ? '  she  began. 


76  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  He  said  you  was  faint.' 

'  Who  is  "  he  "  ? ' 

'  The  gentleman — I  mean  the  young  one.' 

'  Ah — Well,  but  I  was  holding  you  down  by  the  blue 
ribband  for  ever  so  long.' 

'  Yes — because — I  had  promised  not  to  take  it  off,' 
said  the  girl,  blushing. 

'  What  a  promise  ?  ' 

'  O,  but  you  know,  ma'am — I  mean,  it  was  give  to  me, 
and  so  I  promised.  When  folks  give  you  things  they 
always  expect  you  never  to  take  'em  off.' 

'  Do  they  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel.  But  then  she  launched 
forth  into  the  account  of  all  the  day's  distress,  electrify- 
ing her  listener  with  some  of  the  fear  and  excitement  so 
long  pent  up.  Yet  the  mill  girl's  comment  was  pecu- 
liar. 

'  It  does  make  a  person  feel  very  solemn  to  be  so 
near  to  death.' 

'Solemn!'  cried  Wych  Hazel.  'Is  that  all  you 
would  feel,  Phoebe  ? ' 

'I'm  not  much  afraid  of  pain,  you  know,  ma'am — and 
if  the  fire  took  it  couldn't  last  long.' 

'  But  Phoebe  ; — '  she  sat  straight  up  on  her  floury 
cushions,  looking  at  the  girl's  quiet  face.  '  What  do 
you  mean,  Phoebe  ? ' — She  could  not  have  told  what 
checked  the  expression  of  her  growing  wonder. 

'O  lie  down,  ma'am,  please!  Why  I  only  mean,' 
said  Phcebe  speaking  with  perfect  simplicity — '  You 
know  God  calls  us  all  to  die  somehow— and  if  he  called 
me  to  die  so,  it  wouldn't  make  much  difference.  I 
shouldn't  think  of  it  when  I'd  got  to  heaven.' 

Again  some  undefined  feeling  sealed  Wych  Hazel's 
lips.  She  lay  down  as  she  was  desired,  and  with  het 


THE   MILL    FLOOR.  77 

hand  over  her  eyes  thought,  and  wondered,  and  fell 
asleep. 

For  some  hours  thereafter  the  sunbeams  were  hardly 
quieter  than  the  party  they  lighted  on  the  miller's  floor. 
Wych  Hazel  slept;  Mrs.  Saddler  was  even  more  pro- 
foundly wrapped  in  forgetfulness ;  Mr.  Falkirk  sat  by 
keeping  guard.  The  miller's  daughter  had  run  up  the 
hill  to  her  home  for  a  space.  As  to  Rollo,  he  had  not 
been  seen.  His  gun  was  his  companion,  and  with  that 
it  was  usual  for  him  to  be  in  the  woods  much  of  the 
time.  He  came  back  from  his  wanderings  however  as 
the  day  began  to  fall,  and  now  sat  on  a  stone  outside 
the  mill  door,  very  busy.  The  little  lake  at  his  feet 
still  and  dark,  with  the  side  of  the  woody  glen  doubled 
in  its  mirror,  and  the  sunlight  in  the  tops  of  the  trees 
reflected  in  golden  glitter  from  the  middle  of  the  pool, 
was  a  picture  to  tempt  the  eye  :  but  Rollo's  eye,  if  it 
glanced,  came  back  again.  He  was  picking  the  feathers 
from  a  bird  he  had  shot,  and  doing  it  deftly.  Saunter- 
ing leisurely  up  the  miller  approached  him. 

'Now  that's  what  I  like,'  he  remarked;  'up  to  any- 
thing, eh?  You  don't  seem  so  much  used  up  as  the 
rest  on  'em.  Even  the  little  one  talked  herself  to  sleep 
at  last ! ' 

'  Have  you  got  a  match,  Mr.  Miller  ? ' 

'No — I  haven't,' said  the  man  of  flour — '  I  always 
light  my  pipe  with  a  burning  glass.  Won't  that  serve 
your  turn  ?  So  there  she  sits,  asleep,  and  my  Phoebe 
sits  and  looks  at  her.' 

'  I've  something  else  that  will  serve  my  turn,'  said 
the  hunter  applying  to  his  gun.  '  But  stay — I  do  not 
care  to  see  any  more  fire  to-day  than  is  necessary.' — 
And  drawing  his  work  off  to  a  safe  place,  he  went  on  to 


78  WYCH    HAZEL. 

kindle  tmder  and  make  a  nice  little  fire. — '  Haven't 
you  learned  how  to  make  bread  yet,  Mr.  Miller  ? ' 

'  Not  a  bit ! '  said  he  laughing.  '  And  when  you've 
got  a  wife  and  four  daughters  you  won't  do  much  fancy 
cookig  neither,  I  guess.  But  there's  Phcebe — ' 

'  A  mistake,  Mr.  Miller,'  said  the  fancy  cook.  '  Best 
always  to  be  independent  of  your  wife — and  of  every- 
thing else.' 

And  impaling  his  bird  on  a  sharp  splinter  he  stuck  it 
up  before  the  fire,  to  the  great  interest  and  amusement 
of  the  miller.  Another  spectator  also  wandered  out 
there,  and  she  was  presently  sent  back  to  the  mill. 

'  Miss  Hazel,'  said  Mrs.  Saddler,  coming  to  the 
'  divan '  where  the  young  lady  and  her  guardian  were 
both  sitting, — '  Mr.  Rollo  says,  ma'am,  are  you  ready 
for  him  to  come  in  ? ' 

'  I  am  awake,  if  that  is  what  he  means.' 

'  What  do  you  mean,  Mrs.  Saddler  ? ' 

'  If  you  please,  sir,  I  am  sure  I  don't  know  what  I 
mean, — but  that's  a  very  strange  gentleman,  Miss  Ken- 
nedy. There  he's  gone  and  shot  a  robin — at  least,  I 
suppose  it  was  him  for  I  don't  know  who  else  should 
have  done  it — and  his  gun's  standing  by — and  then  he's 
gone  and  picked  it  ma'am — picked  the  feathers  off,  and 
they  're  lyin'  all  round ;  and  then  he  washed  it  in  the 
lake,  and  he  was  hard  to  suit,  for  he  walked  a  good  way 
up  the  lake  before  he  found  a  place  where  he  would 
wash  it ;  and  now  he's  made  a  fire  and  stuck  up  the 
bird  and  roasted  it ;  and  why  he  didn't  get  me  or  Miss 
Miller  to  do  it  I  don't  comprehend.  And  he's  got 
plates  and  things,  ma'am,  and  salt,  ma'am,  and  bread ; 
and  that's  what  he  means,  sir ;  and  he  want's  to  know 
if  you're  ready.  The  bird's  all  done.' 


THE   MILL    FLOOR.  79 

Wych  Hazel  looked  anything  but  ready.  She  was 
very  young  in  the  world's  ways,  very  new  to  her  own 
popularity,  and  somehow  Mrs.  Saddler's  story  touched 
her  sensitiveness.  The  shy,  shrinking  colour  and  look 
told  of  what  at  six  years  old  would  have  made  her  hide 
her  face  under  her  mother's  apron.  No  such  refuge 
being  at  hand,  however,  and  she  obliged  to  face  the 
world  for  herself,  as  soon  as  she  had  despatched  a  very 
dignified  message  to  Mr.  Rollo,  the  young  lady's  feeling 
sought  relief  in  irritation. 

'  I  suppose  /  am  not  to  blame  this  time,  for  making 
myself  conspicuous,  sir  !  Have  you  given  me  up  as  a 
bad  bargain,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

'  It  can't  be  helped,  my  dear,' — said  her  guardian 
somewhat  dryly,  and  soberly  too.  '  I  think  however  it 
is  rather  somebody  else  who  is  making  himself  conspic- 
uous at  this  time.' 

He  became  conspicuous  to  their  vision  a  minute 
after,  appearing  in  the  mill  door-way  with  a  little  dish 
in  his  hand  and  attended  by  Phcebe  with  other  appli- 
ances ;  but  nothing  mortal  could  less  justify  Wych 
Hazel's  sensation  of  shyness.  With  the  coolness  of  a 
traveller,  the  readiness  of  a  hunter,  and  the  business 
attention  of  a  cook  or  a  courier,  both  which  offices  he 
had  been  filling,  he  went  about  his  arrangements.  The 
single  chair  that  was  in  the  mill  was  taken  from  Mr. 
Falkirk  and  brought  up  to  do  duty  as  a  table,  with  a 
board  laid  upon  it.  On  this  board  was  set  the  bird, 
hot  and  savoury,  on  its  blue-edged  dish  ;  another  plate 
with  bread  and  salt,  and  a  glass  of  water ;  together 
with  a  very  original  knife  and  fork,  that  were  probably 
introduced  soon  after  the  savages  '  left.'  Mrs.  Sad- 
dler's eyes  grew  big  as  she  looked ;  but  Rollo  and  the 


go  WYCH    HAZEL. 

miller's  girl  understood  each  other  perfectly  and  wanted 
none  of  her  help.  Well 

'Girls  blush  sometimes  because  they  are  alive' — 
but  seeing  it  could  not  be  helped,  as  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
said,  Wych  Hazel  rallied  whatever  of  her  was  grown  up, 
and  tried  to  do  justice  to  both  the  cooking  and  the 
compliment.  The  extreme  gravity  and  propriety  of  her 
demeanour  were  a  little  suspicious  to  one  who  knew 
her  well,  and  there  could  be  no  sort  of  question  as  to 
the  prettiest  possible  curl  which  now  and  then  betrayed 
itself  at  the  corners  of  her  mouth ;  but  Miss  Kennedy 
had  herself  remarkably  in  hand,  and  talked  as  demurely 
from  behind  the  breast-bone  of  her  robin  as  if  it  had 
been  a  small  mountain  ridge.  Mr.  Falkirk  looked  on. 

'  Where  did  you  find  that,  Rollo  ? ' 

'  Somewhere  within  a  mile  of  circuit,  sir,'  said  Rollo, 
who  had  taken  a  position  of  ease  in  the  mill  doorway, 
half  lying  on  the  floor,  and  looking  out  on  the  lake. 

'  You  are  a  good  provider.' 

'  Might  have  had  fish — if  my  tackle  had  not  been  out 
of  reach.  I  did  manage  to  pick  up  a  second  course, 

though Miss  Phoebe,  I  think  it  is  time  for  the 

second  course  — 

His  action,  at  least,  Phcebe  understood,  if  not  his 
words  ;  for  as  he  sprang  up  and  cleared  the  board  of 
the  relics  of  the  robin,  the  miller's  daughter,  looking  as 
if  the  whole  thing  was  a  play,  brought  out  from  some 
crib  a  large  platter  of  wild  strawberries  bordered  with 
vine  leaves  ;  along  with  some  bowls  of  very  good  look- 
ing milk. 

'Upon  my  word,  Rollo!' — said  the  other  gentle- 
man. 

'  Ah,   that   touches  you,    Mr.    Falkirk !     You   don't 


THE   MILL    FLOOR.  8l 

deserve  it — but  you  may  have  some.     And  I  will  be 
generous — Mr.  Falkirk,  here  is  a  wing  of  the  robin.' 

'  No,  thank  you,'  said  the  other,  laughing.  '  Why  these 
are  fine ! ' 

'  Is  the  air  fine  out  of  doors,  Mr.  Jlollo  ? '  asked  the 
young  lady. 

'  Nothing  can  be  finer.' 

'  What  you  call  "  strong,"  sir? ' 

'  Strong  as  a  rose — or  as  a  lark's  whistle — or  as  June 
sunlight;  strong  in  a  gentle  way  ;  I  don't  admire  things 
that  are  too  strong.' 

'  Things  that  you  think  ought  to  be  weak.  Ikit  I 
was  trying  to  find  out  whether  your  private  collation  of 
air  could  have  taken  away  your  appetite.' 

'  I  think  not — I  haven't  inquired  after  it,  but  now 
that  you  speak  of  the  matter,  I  think  it  must  have  been 
bread  and  cheese.' 

'  And  I  suppose  you  tried  the  strawberries — just  to 
see  if  they  were  ripe.' 

'  No,  I  didn't,  but  I  will  now.  '  And  coming  to  Wych 
Hazel's  side  he  proceeded  to  help  her  carefully  and  to 
put  a  bowl  of  milk  in  suggestive  proximity  to  her  right 
hand  ;  then  taking  a  handful  himself  he  stood  up  and 
went  on  talking  to  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'What  is  your  plan  of  proceeding,  sir  ? ' 

'  I  don't  know,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  I  am  puzzled. 
The  coach  goes  back  to-morrow  morning  to  the  foot  of 
the  mountain  ;  there  is  no  object  in  our  making  such  a 
circuit,  if  we  could  get  on  from  here, — besides  the  fact 
that  none  of  us  want  to  go  over  the  ground  again  ;  but 
to  get  on  from  here  seems  out  of  the  question.' 

'  It  seems  to  me,  to  stay  here  is  out  of  the  question,' 
observed  Rollo. 

6 


82  WVCH    HAZEL 

'  I  don't  see  how  to  help  it — for  one  night.  The  only 
sole  vehicle  here  is  Mr.  Miller's  little  wagon,  and  that 
will  hold  but  two.' 

'  So  I  understand. — Those  strawberries  are  not  bad,' 
he  said,  appealing  to  Wych  Hazel. 

'  A  very  mild  form  of  praise,  Mr.  Rollo.  Harmless 
and  inoffensive — to  berries.  What  will  you  do,  then, 
Mr.  Falkirk  ?  seeing  there  are  five  of  us.' 

'  I  am  in  a  strait.  Could  you  spend  the  night  here  in 
any  tolerable  comfort,  Wych,  do  you  suppose  ? ' 

'  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  your  system  of  arith- 
metic,' observed  Rollo. 

'  Simple  addition.  I  suppose,  sir,  I  could  spend  the 
night  where  other  human  creatures  can.  And  as  I 
shall  take  Phoebe  with  me  when  I  go,  will  you  please 
arrange  with  her  father  ?  I  told  her  she  could  have  what 
vages  she  liked.' 

''  What  shall  I  arrange  with  her  father,  Miss  Hazel  ?' 

'  Why — anything  he  wants  arranged,  sir.  What  the 
wages  shall  be.' 

'  Your  scheme  of  travel  may  be  continued  to  any  ex- 
tent, Miss  Hazel,  if  you  continue  to  do  business  on  an 
equally  logical  plan.' 

She  laughed,  a  good,  honest,  merry  little  laugh,  but 
further  direct  reply  made  none. 

'  That  puff  of  displeasure  blows  me  fairly  away ! ' 
she  said,  jumping  up  and  floating  off  to  the  mill  door 
like  any  thistle  down,  on  the  tips  of  her  toes. 

'  Is  it  possible  to  make  any  comfortable  arrangement 
for  her  at  the  miller's  house  ? '  Mr.  Falkirk  asked  in  a 
low  tone. 

'Not  if  she  be  "true  princess,"  said  Rollo  with  a 
smile.  '  There  would  be  more  than  a  few  vegetables 


THE    MILL    FLOOR.  83 

between  Miss  Kennedy  and  comfort.' He  hesitated, 

and  then  suddenly  asked  Wych  if  she  were  tired  ?  Cer- 
tainly her  face  told  of  some  fatigue,  but  the  busy  spirit 
was  unconquered,  and  she  said,  *  No — not  very  much.' 

'  I  am  going  on  to  Dr.  Maryland's  myself — with  the 
miller's  horse  and  wagon,  which  I  engaged  provisionally. 
If  Miss  Kennedy  will  trust  herself  to  me — perhaps  it 
would  be  less  wearisome  than  to  stay  here ;  and  it  would 
make  a  jubilee  at  Dr.  Maryland's  as  you  know,  sir.  1 
will  send  the  wagon  back  for  you  to-morrow,  in  that 
case.' 

'  It  is  for  her  to  say  ! '  Mr.  Falkirk  answered,  rather 
gloomily.  '  It  is  a  day  of  adventures,  Wych — will  you 
go  to  meet  them,  or  will  you  wait  for  them  ?  There's  no 
escape  either  way.'  He  smiled  a  little  at  his  ward  as 
he  spoke.  But  her  eyes  spoke  back  only  ama/ement. 

' 1  shall  stay  with  you,  sir,  of  course.'  Clearly  Miss 
Kennedy  thought  her  guardian  had  taken  leave  of  his 
senses. 

'What  if  you  take  the  wagon  to  Dr.  Maryland's  then, 
sir;  Miss  Kennedy  can  hardly  spend  the  night  here. 
Even  a  twenty-five  mile  drive  is  better.' 

But  Mr.  Falkirk  had  reasons  of  his  own  for  negativ- 
ing that  plan,  and  negatived  it  accordingly. 

'  Go  with  me,  then '  said  Rollo,  turning  to  Wych 
Hazel.  '  I  will  take  care  of  you  !'  And  he  said  it  with 
something  of  the  warm  smile  which  had  met  her  before, 
power  and  promise  together. 

'Why,  I'm  not  afraid,'  she  said,  half  laughing,  yet 
half  shyly  too ;  thinking  with  herself  how  strange  the 
day  had  been.  Since  until  yesterday  Mr.  Rollo  had 
scarcely  paid  her  ordinary  attention ;  since  until  then 
Mr.  Falkirk  had  always  been  the  one  to  care  for  her 


84  WYCH   HAZEL. 

so  carefully.  She  felt  oddly  alone,  standing  there  b> 
them  both,  looking  out  with  her  great  brown  eyes  stead- 
ily into  the  setting  sunshine  ;  and  a  wistful  air  of  thought- 
taking  replaced  the  smile.  Rollo  remarked  that  there 
was  but  one  unoccupied  bed  in  the  miller's  house,  and 
that  one,  he  knew,  was  laid  upon  butternuts. 

Mr.  Falkirk  had  been  watching  his  ward.  He  drew 
near,  and  put  her  hand  upon  his  arm,  looking  and  speak- 
ing with  grave  tenderness. 

'  You  shall  do  as  you  list,  my  dear  ;  I  cannot  advise 
you,  for  I  do  not  know  which  would  be  worse,  the  fatigue 
of  going  or  the  fatigue  of  staying.  You  must  judge.  DP 
Maryland  will  receive  you  as  his  own  child,  if  you  go  ; — 
and  I  will  keep  you  as  my  own  child  if  you  stay,  he  add- 
ed after  a  second's  hesitation. 

'  Yes,  sir — I  know — I  think  I  shall  stay.  I  don't 
think  I  can  go,  Mr.  Rollo  ;  and  as  for  the  butternuts,' 
she  added,  recovering  her  spirits  the  moment  the  deci- 
sion was  made, '  any  one  who  likes  to  sleep  on  them 
may!  I  shall  play  mouse  among  the  meal  bags.' 

'  Then  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  get  you  out  of  your 
difficulties  to-morrow.  I  hope  the  play  will  not  include 
sleeplessness,  which  is  my  idea  of  a  mouse.' 

He  offered  his  hand,  clasped  hers,  lifted  his  hat,  and 
was  gone. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


WITH  the  departure  of  the  more  stirring  member  of 
the  company,  Miss  Wych  had  subsided  ;  and  in 
that  state  could  feel  that  she  was  tired.  She  sat  in  the 
doorway  of  the  mill.  It  was  after  sundown  ;  still,  bright, 
sweet,  and  fair,  as  after  sundown  in  June  can  be.  The 
sky  all  aglow  still  with  cooler  lights  ;  in  the  depth  of 
the  hollow  the  morsel  of  a  lake  had  a  dark  shining  of 
its  own,  like  a  black  diamond,  or  a  green  jasper,  with 
the  light  off.  Mrs.  Saddler  was  gone  up  the  hill  with 
Phoebe,  to  get  her  share  of  hospitality.  Mr.  Falkirk 
had  supped  on  the  remains  of  the  strawberries  and 
milk,  and  would  have  nothing  more.  Guardian  and 
ward  were  alone.  The  stillness  of  Summer  air  floated 
down  from  the  tree-tops,  and  did  not  stir  the  lake. 

'  Wych,  how  do  you  like  seeking  your  fortune  ?  I  am 
curious  to  be  informed  ? ' 

'Thank  you,  sir.  The  finding  to-day  has  gone  so  far 
beyond  my  expectations,  that  I  am  willing  to  rest  the 
pursuit  till  to-morrow. ' 

'  Fortune  and  you  clasp  hands  rather  roughly  at  first 


86  WYCH    HAZEL. 

setting  out !    But  what  do  you  think  of  the  train  she 
has  brought  with  her  in  these  seven  days  ? ' 

'What  train,  sir?' 

*  I  asked  you  what  you  thought  of  it.  Answer  straight, 
like  a  good  child. ' 

'  It's  a  wonderful  train,  if  it  has  made  a  good  child  of 
me,'  she  answered,  with  a  half  laugh.  '  Do  you  mean  of 
people,  or  events,  sir?' 

'The  events  are  left  behind,  child  ;  the  people  follow. 

'Will  they?'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Dr.  Maryland  and 
all  ?  Mr.  Kingsland  might  stay  behind.  Nobody  will 
ever  want  him.' 

'  All  the  rest  have  your  good  leave ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk? 
with  an  expression — Wych  could  not  tell  what  sort  of  an 
expression,  it  was  so  comp.icated.  '  Do  you  think  it  is 
an  easy  office  I  have  to  fill  ? '  he  went  on. 

'  Maybe  not,  sir.  I  thought  you  seemed  very  ready 
to  give  it  up.  I  have  felt  like  stray  baggage  to-day.' 

'  How  do  you  suppose  I  am  to  guard  you  from  so 
many  enemies  ? ' 

'  Ready  to  send  me  round  the  country,  with  the  first 
knight-errant  that  starts  up  ? '  said  the  girl,  in  an  ag- 
grieved voice.  '  And  if  /  had  proposed  such  a  thing  ! ' 

'  My  dear,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  '  you  would  have  been 
perfectly  safe  at  Dr.  Maryland's.  And  much  better  off 
than  in  this  old  mill.  I  am  not  sure  but  I  ought  to 
have  made  you  go.' 

'  What  did  you  mean  by  "  enemies,"  just  now,  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk ? ' 

'  There's  an  old  proverb,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  with  a 
quirl  of  his  lips,  '  that  "  a  cat  may  look  at  a  king."  And 
no  doubt  it  is  a  queen's  liability.  But  how  am  I  tc 
guard  you  from  the  teeth  and  the  claws  ? ' 


CATS.  87 

'  My  dear  sir,  very  few  cats  are  dangerous.  I  am  not 
much  afraid  of  being  scratched.' 

'  Have  you  any  idea  how  many  of  your  grimalkins  are 
coming  to  Chickaree  this  Summer?' 

'  No,  sir.  The  more  the  better ;  for  then  they  will 
have  full  occupation  for  their  claws  without  me.' 

'Ah,  my  dear,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  'don't  you  know 
that  the  cat  gets  within  springing  distance  before  the 
claws  are  shown  ? ' 

'  Yes.sir  ;  but  you  are  presupposing  a  stationary  mouse. 
Pray,  how  many  fierce,  soft-pawed,  sharp-clawed  mon- 
sters preside  over  your  ideas  at  present  ? ' 

'  Six  or  seven,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  with  the  utmost 
gravity.  '  Fortune  has  come  upon  you  suddenly,  Wvch.' 

It  was  very  pretty,  the  way  she  laughed  and  flushed. 

'They  are  not  all  troubled  with  whiskers,  sir — my 
kind  medical  friend,  for  instance.' 

'You  think  so!  Pray,  in  your  judgment,  what  is  he,  then  ?' 

'  Not  a  cat,  sir,  and  yet  no  lion.  Mr.  Rollo  calls  him 
a  "  specimen."  ' 

'Of  what  ? '  (dryly  enough.) 

'  I  rebuked  him  for  the  expression,  sir,  but  did  not 
inquire  its  meaning.' 

'  Do  you  suppose  the  English  traveller,  Mr.  Shenstone, 
will  come  to  Chickaree  this  Summer  for  the  purpose  of 
inspecting  the  Morton  manufactories  ? ' 

'  Let  us  'ope  not,  sir.  Mr.  Morion  will,  for  his  home 
is  just  there.  He  told  me  so.' 

'And  young  Nightingale  has  it  in  his  mind  to  spend 
a  good  deal  of  the  Summer  at  his  aunt's,  Mrs.  Lasalle's  ; 
for  he  told  me  so.  I  saw  him  in  town.' 

'Mr.  Falkirk,  you  are  not  a  bit  like  yourself  to-day. 
Are  all  men  cats,  sir  ? '  (very  gravely.) 


88  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  My  dear,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  '  most  men  are,  when 
they  see  a  Chickaree  mouse  in  their  path  ! ' 

'  Poor  little  me  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel,  laughing.  She 
was  silent  a  minute,  then  went  cheerfully  on.  '  I  know, 
Mr.  Falkirk,  I  shall  depend  upon  you  !  We're  in  a 
fairy  tale,  you  remember,  sir,  and  you  must  be  the  three 
dogs.' 

'  Will  you  trust  me,  Wych,  when  I  take  such  a  shape 
to  your  eyes  ? ' 

'Do  you  remember? '  said  she,  not  heeding.  'The 
first  one  with  eyes  like  saucers,  looking — so  !  And  the 
next  with  eyes  like  mill  wheels — so !  And  the  next,  with 
eyes  like  the  full  moon  ! — '  At  which  point  Miss  Hazel's 
own  eyes  were  worth  looking  at. 

'  You  do  not  answer  me,  I  observe.  Never  mind.  A 
woman's  understanding,  I  have  frequently  observed, 
develops  like  a  prophecy.' 

The  night  in  the  mill  was  better,  on  the  whole,  than 
it  promised.  No  sound  awoke  Wych  Hazel,  till  little 
messengers  of  light  came  stealing  through  every  crack 
and  knot  hole  of  the  mill,  and  a  many-toed  Dorking  near 
by  had  six  times  proclaimed  himself  the  first  cock  in 
creation,  let  the  other  be  who  he  would  ! 

To  open  her  eyes  was  to  be  awake,  with  Wych  Hazel ; 
and  softly  she  stepped  along  the  floor  and  out  on  the 
dewy  path  to  the  lake  side  ;  and  there  stood  splashing 
her  hands  in  the  water  and  the  water  over  her  face,  with 
intense  satisfaction.  The  lake  was  perfectly  still,  dis- 
turbed only  by  the  dip  of  a  king-fisher  or  the  spring  of  a 
trout.  She  stood  there  musing  over  the  last  day  and  the 
last  week,  starting  various  profound  questions,  but  not 
stopping  to  run  them  down, — then  went  meandering  back 
to  the  mill  again.  On  her  way  she  came  to  a  spot  in  the 


CATS.  89 

grass  where  there  was  a  sprinkling  of  robin's  feathers. 
Wych  Hazel  stopped  short  looking  at  them,  smiling  to 
herself,  then  suddenly  stopped  and  chose  out  three  or 
four  ;  and  went  back  with  quick  steps  to  the  mill. 

Bread  and  tea  were  had  in  the  open  air,  with  the 
seasoning  of  the  June  morning.  The  stage  coach  rumbled 
off  by  the  road  it  had  come,  bearing  with  it  the  two  coun- 
trywomen, and  leaving  a  pile  of  baggage  for  Chickaree- 
The  miller  came  clown  and  set  his  mill  agoing,  excusing 
himself  to  his  guests  by  saying  that  there  was  a  good 
lot  of  corn  to  be  ground  and  the  people  would  be  along 
for  it.  So  the  mill  became  no  longer  a  place  of  rest, 
and  Miss  Hazel  and  her  guardian  were  driven  out  into 
the  woods  by  the  rumble  and  dust  and  jar  of  machinery. 
Do  what  they  would,  it  was  a  long  morning  to  twelve 
o'clock  ;  when  the  mill  ceased  its  rumble  and  the  miller 
went  home  to  his  dinner,  and  the  weary  and  warm 
loiterers  came  back  to  the  shade  of  the  mill  Moor.  Thou 
the  sound  of  wheels  was  heard  at  last ;  the  first  that  had 
broken  the  solitude  that  day;  and  presently  at  the  mill 
door  Rollo  presented  himself,  looking  as  if  sunshine 
agreed  with  him.  He  shook  hands  with  Mr.  Falkirk, 
but  gave  Wych  Hazel  his  old  stately  salutation. 

'  I  could  not  come  sooner,'  he  said.  '  I  did  my  best ; 
but  it  is  thirty  miles  instead  of  twenty-five.  How  was 
the  night  ? ' 

'  Sadly  oblivious  and  uneventful ! ' 

'  Mine  wasn't !  for  I  was  getting  dinner  for  you  in  my 
dreams  all  night  long.  Being  dependent  on  other  peo- 
ple's resources,  you  see — However,  I  had  a  good  little 
friend  to  help  me  ! ' 

'  What  carriage  have  you  brought  for  us,  Rollo  ? ' 

'  Dr.  Maryland's  rockaway,  sir  ;  and  the  miller's  wagon 


90  WYCH    HAZEL. 

for  the  trunks.  To  get  anything  else  would  have  made 
much  more  delay.  Is  my  friend  Phoebe  here  ? ' 

'  She  will  be  soon.  It  is  dinner-time  in  the  mill- 
What  do  yqu  want,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  Three  words  and  a  little  assistance.' 

He  went  off,  and  in  a  little  while  was  back  again,  ac- 
companied by  Phoebe  and  plates  and  glasses ;  and  the 
two  went  on  to  set  forth  the  dinner,  which  he  drew  from 
a  great  basket  that  had  come  in  the  rockaway.  All  this 
was  done,  and  order  given  at  the  same  time  to  other 
matters,  with  the  light-handed  promptitude  and  readiness 
of  the  bird-roasting  of  yesterday  ;  Rollo  assuring  Wych 
Hazel  between  whiles  that  travelling  was  a  very  good 
thing,  if  you  took  enough  of  it. 

'Thirty  miles  this  morning,  and  thirty  last  night ;  and 
how  many  yesterday  morning? — A  hundred,  I  should 
say,  by  my  measurement.' 

'  Rollo  ! — What  a  dinner  you  have  brought  us  ! '  said 
Mr.  Falkirk,  who  maintained  a  quiet  and  passive  be- 
haviour. 

'You  cannot  set  off  for  some  hours  yet,  sir — the 
horses  must  have  rest.  I  believe — but  am  not  sure — that 
somebody  got  up  very  early  this  morning  to  make  that 
pie.  I  told  them  I  had  left  some  friends  in  distress  ;  and 
Primrose  and  I — did  what  we  could.  I  realized  this 
morning  what  must  be  the  position  of  a  Commissary 
General  on  a  rapid  march.' 

The  provision  on  the  board  called  for  no  excuses. 
Rollo  served  everybody,  even  Mrs.  Saddler,  and  after- 
wards dispensed  strawberries  of  much  larger  growth 
than  those  of  the  day  before.  He  was  the  impersona- 
tion of  gay  activity  as  long  as  there  was  anything  to  do  ; 
and  then  he  subsided  into  ease-taking.  The  smoke  of 


CATS.  91 

a  cigar  did  not  indeed  offend  Miss  Kennedy's  mill-door; 
but  in  a  luxurious  position  under  a  tree  at  some  distance 
the  sometime  smoker  settled  himself  with  his  sketch- 
book, and  seemed  to  be  comfortably  busy  at  play,  till  it 
was  time  for  moving. 

Wych  Hazel  had  been  in  an  altogether  quiet  mood 
since  the  arrival  of  the  rockaway.  In  that  mood  she 
had  watched  the  unpacking  of  the  basket,  in  that  mood 
sJie  had  eaten  her  dinner.  It  was  strange,  even  to  her- 
self, the  sort  of  quietus  Mr.  Rollo  was  to  her.  Not 
feeling  free  to  play  with  him,  by  no  means  disposed  to 
play  before  him,  she  had  ventured  to  offer  her  services 
no  further  than  by  asking  him  what  he  wanted  ;  then 
left  him  to  himself  ;  oddly  conscious  all  the  while,  that 
if  it  had  been  any  other  one  of  her  new  feline  friends, 
she  would  have  put  her  little  hand  into  the  business  and 
the  basket  with  pleasant  effect.  So  she  sat  still  ami 
watched  him,  — giving  a  bit  of  a  smile  now  and  then  in- 
deed to  his  direct  remarks,  but  as  often  only  a  fuller  look 
of  the  brown  eyes.  Since  the  gentleman  had  been  under 
the  tree  she  had  been  idly  busy  with  her  own  thoughts, 
having  sketched  herself  tired  in  the  morning.  "  Prim  " 
she  recognized  at  once — Dr.  Maryland's  sister, — she  had 
heard  him  speak  of  her.  Would  she  be  a  friend  ?  any  one 
to  whom  these  many  thoughts  might  come  out  ?  So  Wych 
Hazel  sat,  gazing  out  upon  the  lengthening  shadows, 
leaning  her  head  somewhat  wearily  in  her  hand,  wishing 
the  journey  over  and  herself  on  her  own  vantage  ground 
at  Chickaree.  It  would  be  such  a  help  to  be  mistress 
of  the  house  ! — for  these  last  two  days  she  had  been 
nothing  but  a  brown  parcel,  marked  "  fragile  " — "  with 


CHAPTER  X. 

CHICKAREE. 

ROLLO  had  driven  the  rockaway  down  and  was 
going  to  drive  back.  He  put  Wych  Hazel  into 
the  carriage,  recommending  to  her  to  lean  back  in  the 
corner  and  go  to  sleep.  Phcebe  was  given  the  place 
beside  her;  Mr.  Falkirk  mounted  to  the  front  seat ;  and 
off  they  drove. 

It  was  about  four  o'clock  of  a  fine  June  day,  and  the  air 
was  good  to  breathe  ;  but  the  way  was  nothing  extraor- 
dinary. A  pleasant  country,  nothing  more  ;  easy  roads 
for  an  hour,  then  heavier  travelling. 

The  afternoon  wore  on  ;  the  miles  were  plodded  over  ; 
/as  the  sun  was  dipping  towards  the  western  horizon 
they  came  into  scenery  of  a  new  quality.  At  once 
more  wild  and  more  dressed  ;  the  ground  bolder  and 
more  rocky  in  parts,  but  between  filled  with  gentler  in- 
dications. The  rockaway  drew  up.  The  driver  looked 
back  into  the  carriage,  while  the  other  gentleman  got 
down. 

'  Miss  Kennedy,  if  you  will  change  places  with  Mr. 
Falkirk  now  you  will  be  rewarded.  I  have  something 
here  a  great  deal  better  than  that  book.' 

'  I  have  not  been  reading — I  have  been  watching  for 
landmarks  for  some  time,'  she  said,  as  she  made  the 


CHICKAREE.  93 

change  ;  '  but  I  think  I  can  never  have  gone  to  Chicka- 
ree by  this  road.' 

The  change  was  great.  However  fair  it  had  looked 
from  withinside,  as  soon  as  she  got  out  on  the  front  seat 
Wych  Hazel  found  that  a  flood  of  bright,  slant  sunbeams 
were  searching  out  all  the  beauty  there  was  in  the  land, 
and  winning  it  into  view.  It  was  one  of  those  illumina- 
ted hours,  that  are  to  the  common  day  as  an  old  painted 
and  jewelled  missal  to  an  ordinary  black  letter. 

'  Is  it  better  than  your  book  ? '  said  the  charioteer, 
whose  reins  were  clearly  only  play  to  him,  and  who  was 
much  more  occupied  with  his  companion.  She  glanced 
round  at  him,  with  the  very  June  evening  in  her  eyes, 
dews  and  sunbeams  and  all. 

'  Better  than  most  of  the  books  that  ever  were  written, 
I  suppose.  But  the  book  was  not  bad,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  What  book  was  it  ?  to  be  mentioned  in  the  connec- 
tion.' 

'  "  I  Promessi  Sposi."  ' 

'Unknown  to  me.  Give  me  an  idea  of  it — while  we 
are  getting  up  this  hill — there'll  be  something  else  to 
talk  of  afterwards.' 

'  Two  people  are  betrothed,  and  proceed  to  get  into 
all  manner  of  difficulties.  That  is  the  principal  idea  so 
far.  I  haven't  come  to  the  turn  of  the  story,  which 
takes  the  thread  out  of  its  tangle.' 

'  A  very  stupid  idea  !  Yet  you  said  the  book  was  not 
a  bad  book  ? '  he  said,  looking  gravely  round  upon  her. 

'  No,  indeed.  And  the  idea  is  not  stupid,  in  the  book 
I  mean,  because  the  people  could  not  help  themselves, 
and  so  you  get  interested  for  them.' 

'  Do  you  get  interested  in  people  who  cannot  help 
themselves  ? ' 


94 

'  Yes,  I  think  so— always, — people  who  cannot  in  the 
impossible  sense.  Not  those  who  don't  know  or  wont 
try.  But  my  words  did  not  mean  just  that.  I  should 
have  said,  help  //—help  being  in  difficulties.' 

'I  believe  people  can  get  out  of  difficulties,'  said 
Rollo.  '  What  was  the  matter  with  these  ? ' 

'  O  the  difficulties  were  piled  on  their  heads  by  other 
people.  Lucia  was  a  peasant,  but  she  was  "  si  bella  " 
that  one  of  the  grandees  wanted  to  get  her  away  from 
Renzo.' 

'I  don't  see  the  difficulties  yet.     What  next? ' 

'  No,  of  course  you  don't ! '  said  Wych,  warming  in 
defense  of  her  book.  '  But  if  some  Don  Rodrigo  forbade 
somebody  to  marry  you — and  then  sent  a  party  to  run 
away  with  your  bride — so  that  she  had  to  go  into  a  con- 
vent and  you  wander  round  the  world  in  ill  humour — I 
daresay  your  clearness  of  vision  would  improve.' 
.  '  I  dare  say  it  would,'  said  Rollo,  passing  a  hand  over 
his  eyes, — '  I  think  it  would  have  to  grow  worse  before  all 
those  events  could  happen  !  But  on  the  highest  round 
of  that  ladder  of  impossibilities,  I  think  I  should  see  my 
way  into  the  convent, — and  escape  the  ill  humour.' 

'But  Lucia  would  not  be  shut  up  from  you,  but  from 
the  grandee.  It  would  only  make  matters  worse  to 
bring  her  out.' 

'  Not  for  me,'  said  Rollo.  '  It  might  for  the  book,  be- 
cause, as  you  say,  then  the  interest  would  be  gone.  Do 
you  think  the  people  in  a  book  are  real  people  ? — while 
you  are  reading  it  ? ' 

'  Not  quite — they  might  have  been  real.  I  don't  feel 
just  as  if  I  should  if  I  knew  they  were.' 

'In  that  case  the  interest  would  be  less?'  he  said, 
with  a  laughinjr  look. 


CHICKAREE.  95 

'Yes — or  at  least  different.  There  are  so  many 
tilings  to  qualify  your  interest  in  real  living  people.' 

'  Yes.  For  instance  in  real  life  the  people  who  can- 
not help  being  in  difficulties  never  interest  me  as  much 
as  the  people  who  get  out  of  them  ;  and  so  I  think  most 
novels  are  stupid,  because  the  men  and  women  are  all 
real  to  me.  There  ! '  he  said,  pulling  up  as  they  reached 
the  top  of  an  ascent,  'there  are  no  difficulties  in  your 
way  here.  What  do  you  think  of  that  ? ' 

The  hill-top  gave  a  wide  view  over  a  rich,  cultivated, 
inhabited  country  ;  its  beauty  was  in  the  wide,  generous 
eye-view  and  the  painter's  colours  that  decked  it  ;  for 
which,  broken  ground  in  front  and  distant  low  hills 
gave  play  to  the  slant  sunbeams.  Warm,  rich,  in- 
viting, looked  every  inch  of  those  wide-spread  square 
miles. 

'  Do  you  know  where  you  are  ? '  said  he  in  an  enjoy- 
ing tone. 

'  I  suppose  near  home, — but  it's  not  familiar  yet.' 

'No,  you  are  some  miles  from  home.  Over  there  to 
the  west,  lies  Dr.  Maryland's — but  you  can't  see  it  in 
this  light.  It's  two  miles  away-  Do  you  see,  further 
to  the  north,  standing  high  on  a  hill,  awhile  house-front 
that  catches  the  sun  ? ' 

'  Yes.' 

'  Mme.  Lasalle's,  Moscheloo.  It's  a  pretty  place — 
nothing  like  Chickaree.  When  we  reach  the  next 
turning  you  will  catch  a  glimpse  of  Crocus  in  the  other 
direction — do  you  know  what  Crocus  is  ? ' 

'  O  yes,  the  village.  Our  house  was  brown,  I  remem- 
ber that, — and  as  you  go  up  the  hill  Mr.  Falkirk's  cot 
tage  is  just  by  the  roadside.  Did  you  tell  them  to  leave 
Mrs.  Saddler  there  ?' 


g6  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  She  will  tell  them  herself,  I  fancy.  Crocus  is  the 
place  where  you  will  be  expected  to  buy  sugar  and  spice. 
It  is  some  four  miles  from  Chickaree  on  that  side,  and 
we  are  about  five  miles  from  it  on  this  ;'  and  as  he  spoke 
he  set  the  horses  in  motion.  '  I  sent  on  a  rescript  to 
Mrs.  Bywank,  bidding  her  on  her  peril  to  be  in  order  to 
receive  you  this  evening.  Mrs.  Bywank  and  I  are  old 
acquaintances,'  he  said,  looking  at  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Dear  Mrs.  Bywank  !  how  good  she  used  to  be.  I 
haven't  seen  her  but  once  since  I  left  home.  I'm  sure 
you  have  a  great  many  worse  acquaintances,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  how  you  can  be  sure  of 
that.  But  I  have  some  better. — Miss  Kennedy,  I  want 
you  to  give  me  a  boon.  Say  you  will  do  it.' 

'  I'll  hear  it  first.' 

'  Will  you  ?  that's  fair,  I  suppose  ;  but  if  we  were  bet- 
ter friends,  I  should  not  be  satisfied  without  a  blank 
check  put  into  my  hands  for  me  to  fill  up.  However, — 
as  1  am  not  to  have  that  honour  on  the  present  occasion 
I  will  explain.  Let  me  be  the  one  to  introduce  you, 
some  day,  to  one  of  your  neighbours,  whom  you  do  not 
remember,  because  she  came  here  since  you  went  away. 
Will  you  ? ' 

'  Why  yes,  of  course,  if  you  wish  it —  only  I  will  not 
be  responsible  for  any  accidental  introduction  that  may 
take  place  first.' 

'  I  will,'  said  Rollo.  *  Then  it  is  a  bargain  ?  I  shall 
ask  half  a  day's  excursion  for  it.' 

'  That  is  as  much  of  a  supplement  as  a  woman's  post- 
script, Mr.  Rollo.  However,  I  suppose  it  is  safe  to  let 
you  ask  what  you  like.' 

'  You  give  it  to  me  ? ' 

'  Mavbe.' 


CHICKAREE.  97 

1  Then  it  is  a  bargain,'  said  he,  smiling.  '  Here  is  my 
hand  upon  it.' 

She  laughed,  looked  round  at  him  rather  wonderingly, 
but  gave  her  hand,  remarking  : 

'  But  you  know  I  have  the  right  to  change  my  mind 
three  times.' 

There  is  a  curious  language  in  the  touch  of  hands, 
saying  often  inexplicably  what  the  coarser  medium  of 
words  would  be  powerless  to  say  ;  revealing  things  not 
meant  to  be  discovered  ;  and  also  conveying  sweeter, 
finer,  more  intimate  touches  of  feeling  and  mood  than 
tongue  could  tell  if  it  tried.  \Vych  Ha/el  remembered 
this  clasp  of  her  hand,  and  felt  it  as  often  as  she  re- 
membered it.  There  was  nothing  sentimental  ;  it  was 
only  a  frank  clasp,  in  which  her  hand  for  a  moment  was 
not  her  own  ;  and  though  the  clasp  did  not  linger,  tor 
that  second's  continuance  it  gave  her  an  indescribable 
impression,  she  could  hardly  have  told  of  what.  It  was 
not  merely  the  gentleness  ;  she  could  not  separate  from 
that  the  notion  of  possession,  and  of  both  as  being  in 
the  mind,  to  which  the  hand  was  an  index.  I>ut  such 
a  thought  passes  as  it  comes.  Something  else  in  those 
five  minutes  brought  the  colour  Hitting  about  her  face, 
coming  and  going  as  if  ashamed  of  itself  ;  but  with  it 
all  she  was  intensely  amused  ;  she  was  not  sentimental, 
nor  even  serious,  and  the  girlish  light  heart  danced  a 
pas  scul  to  such  a  medley  of  tunes  that  it  was  a  wonder 
how  she  could  keep  step  with  them  all. 

'What  do  you  exnect  to  see  at  Chickaree? ' 

'"Birds,  trees,  nnd  horses,  and — Mr.  Falkirk.  didn't 
you  sav  there  would  be  cats  ? ' 

'  Let  him  alone — he  is  deep  in  your  book, 'said  Rolln. 
as  Mr.  Falkirk  made  soniL-  astonished  response.  I 
7 


gg  WYCH    HAZEL. 

meant,  what  do  you  remember  of  the  place?  we  are 
almost  at  the  gate.' 

'  I'll  tell  you — nothing  yet.     Ah  ! ' — 

Through  some  lapse  in  the  dense  woodland  there 
gleamed  upon  them  as  they  swept  on,  the  top  of  an  old 
tower  where  the  sunbeams  lay  at  rest ;  and  from  the  top, 
its  white  staff  glittering  with  light,  floated  the  heavy 
folds  of  a  deep  blue  flag,  not  at  rest  there,  but  curling 
and  waving  and  shaking  out  their  white  device,  which 
was  however  too  far  off  to  be  distinguished.  She  had 
said  she  would  tell  him,  but  she  never  spoke  ;  after  that 
one  little  cry,  so  full  of  tears  and  laughter,  he  heard 
nothing  but  one  or  two  sobs,  low  and  choked  down. 
Now  the  lodge,  nestling  like  an  acorn  under  a  great 
oak  tree,  came  in  sight  first,  then  the  massive  piers  of 
the  gate.  The  gate  was  wide  open,  but  while  the  little 
undergrowth  of  children  started  up  and  took  possession 
of  window  and  door  and  roadside,  the  gate  was  held  by 
the  head  of  the  house,  a  sturdy,  middle  aged  American. 
Wych  Hazel  had  leaned  out,  watching  the  children  ;  but 
as  the  carriage  turned  through  the  gateway,  and  she 
saw  this  man,  standing  there  uncovered,  caught  the 
working  of  his  brown  weatherbeaten  face,  she  bowed  her 
head  indeed,  in  answer  to  his  low  salutation,  but  then 
dropped  her  face  in  her  hands  in  a  perfect  passion  of 
weeping.  It  came  and  went  like  a  Summer  storm,  and 
again  she  was  looking  intently.  Now  past  Mr.  Falkirk's 
white  domicile,  where  her  glittering  eyes  flashed  round 
upon  him  the  "  welcome  home  "  which  her  lips  spoke 
but  unsteadily, — then  on,  on,  up  the  hill,  the  thick  trees 
hiding  the  sunset  and  brushing  the  carriage  with  leafy 
hands, — it  seemed  to  Mr.  Rollo  that  still  as  the  very  fin- 
gngers  of  his  companion  were,  he  could  almost  feel  the 


CHICKAREE.  99 

bound  of  her  spirit.  Then  out  on  a  little  platform  of 
the  road  — and  there,  he  did  not  know  why  she  leaned 
forward  so  eagerly,  till  he  saw  across  the  dell  the  shin- 
ing of  white  marble. 

He  watched  her,  but  drove  on  without  making  the 
least  call  upon  her  attention.  The  views  opened  and 
softened  as  they  drew  near  the  house  ;  the  trees  here 
had  been  more  thinned  out,  and  were  by  consequence 
larger ;  the  carriage  passed  from  one  great  shadow  to 
another,  with  the  thrushes  ringing  out  their  clear  music 
and  the  wild  roses  breathing  upon  the  evening  air.  From 
out  the  forest  came  wafts  of  dark  dewy  coolness,  over- 
head the  clouds  revelled  in  splendour.  Up  still  the 
horses  went,  ever  ascending,  but  slowly,  for  the  ascent 
was  steep.  The  delay,  the  length  of  the  drive  tired 
her, — she  sat  up  again — she  had  been  quietly  leaning 
back  ;  once  or  twice  her  hand  went  up  with  a  quick 
movement  to  drive  back  the  feeling  that  was  passing 
limits  ;  then  gaining  level  ground  once  more,  the  horses 
sprang  forward,  and  in  the  falling  twilight  they  swept 
round  before  the  house.  Except  the  tower,  it  was  but 
two  stories  high,  the  front  stretching  along,  with 
wide  low  steps  running  from  end  to  end.  In  unmatched 
glee  Dingee  stood  on  the  carriage  way  showing  his 
teeth, — on  the  steps,  striving  in  vain  to  clvar  her  eyes 
so  that  she  might  see,  was  Mrs.  Bywank  ;  her  kindly 
figure,  which  each  succeeding  year  had  gently  developed, 
robed  in  her  state  dress  of  black  silk. 

Taking  advantage  of  her  outside  position, — regardless 
of  steps  .as  of  wheels, — Wych  Hazel  vanished  from  the 
carriage,  it  was  hard  to  say  how.  As  difficult  as  it  would 
have  been  to  guess  by  what  witchcraft  a  person  of  Mrs. 
Bywank's  proportions  could  be  spirited  through  the 


I00  WYCH    HAZFL. 

doorway — out  of  sight — in  a  twinkling  of  time  ;  yet  it 
was  done,  and  the  steps  were  empty. 

The  hill  at  Chickaree  was  steepest  on  the  side  to- 
wards the  west,  and  down  that  slope  an  opening  had 
been  cut  through  the  trees — a  sort  of  pathway  for  the 
sunbeams.  The  direct  rays  were  gone,  and  only  the 
warm  sky  glow  brightened  the  hall  door,  when  the  young 
mistress  of  the  place  once  more  appeared.  She  stood 
still  a  moment  and  went  back  again  ;  and  then  came 
Dingee. 

'  Miss  Hazel  say,  sar,  room's  ready  and  supper  won't 
be  long.  Whar  Mass  Rollo  ?  " 

'  I  suppose  he'll  be  here  directly.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  did  not  go  into  the  house  immediately  : 
he  stood  with  folded  arms  waiting,  or  watching  the  fad- 
ing red  glow  of  the  western  sky.  In  about  ten  minutes 
the  tramp  of  a  horse's  feet  heralded  the  coming  of  Mr. 
Rollo,  who  appeared  from  the  corner  of  the  house,  mount- 
ed on  an  old  grey  cob,  who  switched  his  tail  and  moved 
his  ears  as  if  he  thought  going  out  at  that  time  of  day  a 
peculiar  proceeding.  Dingee  staid  the  rider  with  the 
delivery  of  his  young  lady's  message. 

'  I'm  afraid  supper's  more  than  ready  somewhere  else. 
I  can't  stay,  my  friend — my  thanks  to  the  lady.'  And 
letting  fall  on  the  little  dark  figure  who  stood  at  his 
stirrup,  a  gold  piece  and  a  smile,  Rollo  passed  him,  bent 
a  moment  to  speak  to  Mr.  Falkirk,  and  brought  the  grey 
cob's  ideas  to  a  head  by  setting  him  off  at  a  good  pace. 

Mr.  Falkirk  turned  and  went  up  the  low  steps  into  a 
short  broad  hall,  and  opened  a  door  at  the  right. 

The  room  was  large,  opening  by  glass  doors  upon  a 
wilderness  of  grass,  trees  and  flowers.  At  every  corner 
glass  cupboards  showed  a  stock  of  rare  old  china  ;  a 


CHICKAREE.  IOT 

long  sideboard  was  brilliant  and  splendid  with  old  sil- 
ver. Dark  cabinet  ware  furnished  but  not  encumbered 
the  room  ;  in  the  cenfe  a  table  looked  all  of  hospitality 
and  welcome  that  a  table  can.  There  was  a  great  store 
of  old  fashioned  elegance  and  comfort  in  Wych  Hazel's 
home  ;  no  doubt  of  it  ;  of  old-fashioned  state  too,  and 
old-time  respectability  ;  to  which  numberless  old-time 
witnesses  stood  testifying  on  every  hand,  from  the  teapot, 
the  fashion  of  which  was  a  hundred  years  ancient, 
to  the  uncouth  brass  andirons  in  the  fireplace.  Mr. 
Falkirk  came  in  as  one  to  whom  it  was  all  very  wo. .ted 
and  well  known.  The  candles  were  not  lit ;  a  soft  rud- 
dy light  from  the  west  reddened  the  great  m'rr  r  o.\r 
the  fireplace  and  gave  back  the  silver  sideboard  in  it. 
Not  till  the  clear  notes  of  a  bugle,  the  Chickaree 
tea  bell,  had  wound  about  the  old  house  awakening 
sweet  echoes,  did  Wych  Hazel  make  her  appearance. 

'  Supper  mos'  as  good  hot  as  de  weather,'  remarked 
Dingee.  'Mas  Rollo,  he  say  he  break  his  heart  dat 
his  profess'nal  duties  tears  him  'way.' 

'  Dingee,  go  down  stairs,'  said  Miss  Hazel  turning 
upon  him, — 'and  when  you  tell  stories  about  Mr.  Rollo 
tell  them  to  himself,  and  not  to  me.  Will  you  come  to 
tea,  sir  ? ' 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE  birds  were  taken  by  surprise  next  morning. 
Long  before  Mr.  Falkirk  was  up,  before  the  house 
was  fairly  astir  with  servants,  there  was  a  new  voice  in 
their  concert ;  one  almost  as  busy  and  musical  as  their 
own.  Reo  Hartshorne — the  sturdy  gardener  and  lodge- 
keeper — thought  so,  listening  with  wonder  to  hear  what 
a  change  it  made.  Wych  Hazel  had  found  him  out 
planting  flowers  for  her,  and  with  his  hand  taken  in 
both  hers  had  finished  the  half-begun  recognition  of  last 
night.  Now  she  stood  watching  him  as  he  plied  his 
spade,  refreshing  his  labour  with  a  very  streamlet  of 
talk,  flitting  round  him  and  plucking  flowers  like  a  hum- 
ming-bird supplied  with  fingers.  The  servants  passing 
to  and  fro  about  their  work  smiled  to  each  other  ;  Mrs. 
By  wank  came  by  turns  to  the  door  to  catch  a  look  or  a 
word;  Reo  himself  lifted  his  brown  hand  and  made  be- 
lieve it  was  to  brush  away  the  perspiration.  Another 
observer  who  had  come  upon  the  scene,  observed  it 
verj  passively — a  girl,  a  small  girl,  in  the  dress  of  the 
poor,  and  with  the  dull  eyes  of  observance  which  often 
mark  the  children  of  the  poor.  They  expressed  nothing, 
but  that  they  looked. 


VIXEN.  103 

1  Good  morning,  child,'  said  Miss  Hazel.  '  Do  you 
want  me  to  give  you  a  bunch  of  flowers  ? ' 

'No.' 

'  What  then  ? ' 

'  Mammy  sent  me  to  see  if  the  lady  was  come.' 

'  Who  is  mammy  ?  and  what  does  she  want  ? '  said 
Wych  Hazel,  cutting  more  rosebuds  and  dropping  them 
into  her  apron. 

'  Mammy  wants  to  see  the  lady.' 

'  Well,  is  she  coming  to  see  me  ? ' 

'  She  can't  come.' 

'  Why  not  ? ' — a  quick  shower  of  laughter  and  clew- 
drops,  called  down  by  a  fruitless  spring  after  a  spray  of 
white  roses. 

'  She  lays  abed,'  said  the  child,  after  the  shower  was 
over. 

'  O,  is  she  sick  ? '  with  a  sudden  gravity.  '  Then  I 
will  come  and  see  her.  Where  docs  she  live  ?' 

The  child  went  away  as  soon  as  sure  arrangements 
were  made  for  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise.  Wych 
Hazel's  first  visitor  !  one  of  the  two  classes  sure  to  find 
her  out  with  no  delay.  And  Miss  Kennedy  was  about 
as  well  versed  in  the  one  as  in  the  other. 

The  summons  came  to  her  to  attend  the  breakfast 
room.  Mr.  Falkirk  was  there,  fixed  in  an  easy  chair 
and  pamphlet ;  the  morning  stir  had  not  reached  him. 

'  How  long  do  we  remain  at  Chickaree  ? '  he  asked, 
as  he  buttered  his  muffin. 

'  Why,  dear  Mr.  Falkirk,  you  might  as  well  ask  me 
hv.v  long  gentlemen  will  wear  their  present  becoming 
style  of  head-dress  !  I  don't  know.' 

'  I  gather  that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  order  post- 
horses  immediately  for  departure.  The  question  re- 


104 


WYCH    HAZEL. 


mains  :  would  it  be  safe  to  order  other  horses  for  the 
stable  at  home  ?  One  or  the  other  thing  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  do.' 

'  The  other  horses,  sir,  by  all  means.  And  especially 
my  pony  carriage.' 

'  I  shall  have  to  have  one  built  to  order,'  remarked 
Mr.  Falkirk,  after  the  pause  of  half  an  egg. 

'  And  have  it  lined  with  blue — to  set  me  off.' 

'  With  a  dickey  behind — to  set  me  on.' 

'  No,  indeed  !  I'll  have  Dingee  for  an  outrider,  and 
then  we'll  be  a  complete  set  of  Brownies.  You  must 
order  quick-footed  horses  for  me,  Mr.  Falkirk — I  may 
be  reduced  to  the  fate  of  the  Calmuck  girls.' 

A  single  dark  flash  was  in  Mr.  Falkirk's  glance  ;  but 
he  only  said :  '  Who  is  to  have  the  first  race,  my  dear  ? ' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,  you  should  rather  be  anxious  as  to  who 
will  have  the  last.  Put  get  me  a  fast  horse,  sir,  and  let 
me  practise' — and  flitting  away  from  the  table  and  about 
the  room  Miss  Hazel  sang — 

'  "  The  lady  stude  on  the  castle  wa', 

"  Beheld  baith  dale  and  down ; 
"  Then  she  was  ware  of  a  host  of  men 

"  Came  ryding  towards  the  town. 
"  O  see  ye  not,  my  merry  men  a', 

"  O  see  ye  not  what  I  see  ? 
"  Methinks  I  see  a  host  of  men  : 

"  I  marvel  wha'  they  be."  ' 

And  thereupon,  finding  she  had  suddenly  come  rather 
close  to  the  subject,  Miss  Hazel  dashed  out  of  the  room. 

The  day  proved  warm.  The  air,  losing  its  morning 
dew  and  freshness,  moved  listlessly  about  among  the 
leaves ;  the  sky  looked  glassy  ;  the  cattle  stood  panting 
in  the  shade,  or  mused,  ankle  deep,  in  the  brooks ;  only 
the  birds  were  stirring. 


VIXEN.  105 

With  thought  and  action  as  elastic  as  theirs,  the  young 
mistress  of  Chickaree  prepared  for  her  visit  to  the  poor 
woman  ;  afraid  neither  of  the  hot  sunbeams  nor  of  cer- 
tain  white  undulations  of  cloud  that  just  broke  the  line 
of  the  western  horizon.  Mr.  Faikirk  had  walked 
down  to  his  cottage  ;  there  was  no  one  to  counsel  or 
hinder.  And  over  the  horses  there  was  small  consulta- 
tion needed  ;  the  only  two  nags  found  being  a  young 
vixen  of  a  black  colt,  and  an  intensely  sedate  horse  of 
no  particular  colour  which  Mrs.  Bywank  was  accustomed 
to  drive  to  church.  Relinquishing  this  respectable  crea- 
ture to  Dingce,  Wych  Hazel  perched  herself  upon  Vixen 
and  set  forth  ;  walking  the  colt  now  to  keep  by  her  little 
guide,  but  promising  herself  a  good  trot  on  the  way 
home. 

The  child  had  come  to  show  her  the  way,  and  went  in 
a  shuffling  amble  by  the  side  of  the  colt's  black  legs. 
For  a  good  while  they  kept  the  road  which  had  been 
travelled  yesterday  ;  at  last  turned  off  to  another  which 
presently  became  pleasantly  shady.  Woods  closed  it  in, 
made  it  rather  lonely  in  fact,  but  nobody  thought  now 
of  anything  but  the  grateful  change.  There  were 
clouds  which  might  hide  the  sun  by  and  by,  but  just 
now  he  was  powerful  and  they  were  only  lifting  their 
white  heads  stealthily  in  the  west.  At  a  rough  stile,  be- 
yond which  a  foot  track  led  deeper  into  the  wood,  the 
girl  stopped. 

'  It's  in  here,'  she  said. 

It  was  very  clear  that  Vixen  could  not  cross  the  stile. 
So  her  young  rider  dismounted  and  looping  up  the  heavy 
folds  of  her  riding  skirt  as  best  she  might,  disappeared 
from  the  eyes  of  Dingee  among  the  trees.  Her  dress 
was  a  pretty  enough  dress  after  all,  for  though  the 


106  WYCH    HAZEL. 

skirts  were  dark  and  heavy,  the  white  dimity  jacket  was 
all  airiness  and  ruffles  ;  and  once  fairly  in  the  shade  of 
the  trees,  Wych  Hazel  let  her  riding  hat  fall  back  and 
rest  on  her  shoulders  in  very  childish  fashion  indeed. 
Her  little  guide  trotted  on  before  her  ;  till  they  saw  the 
house  they  had  come  for. 

It  was  a  place  of  shiftless  poverty ;  of  need,  no  doubt, 
but  not  of  industry  ;  Wych  Hazel  was  humbly  begged  to 
supply  deficiencies  which  ought  not  to  have  been.  In- 
experienced as  she  was,  she  scarcely  understood  it.  Nev- 
ertheless she  was  glad  when  the  visit  was  over  and  she 
could  step  out  of  the  door  again.  The  clouds  had  not 
hid  the  sun  yet,  and  she  went  lightly  on  through  the 
trees,  singing  to  herself  according  to  custom,  till  she 
was  near  the  stile  :  then  she  was  '  ware '  of  somebody  ap- 
proaching and  the  singing  ceased.  The  glance  which 
showed  her  a  stranger  revealed  also  what  made  her 
glance  again  as  they  drew  nearer;  it  was  a  person  of  un- 
commonly good  exterior  and  fine  bearing.  A  third 
glance  would  not  have  been  given,  but  that,  as  they 
came  close,  Wych  Hazel  received  the  homage  of  a  very 
profound  and  courteous  salutation,  and  the  gentleman, 
presenting  a  branch  of  white  roses,  said  with  sufficient 
deference, 

'  Earth  must  offer  tribute  !  —  and  cannot,  without 
hands — ' 

And  then  passed  swiftly  on.  Amused,  startled,  Wych 
Hazel  also  quickened  her  step  ;  wondering  to  herself 
what  sort  of  country  she  had  fallen  upon.  It  was  ridic- 
ulously like  a  fairy  tale,  this  whole  afternoon's  work. 
The  little  barefooted  guide,  the  sick  woman  with  her 
'your  goodness  '  and  'your  ladyship,'  now  this  upstart- 
ing knight.  There  were  the  roses  in  her  hand,  too,  as 


VIXEN.  107 

much  like  the  famed  spray  gathered  by  the  merchant  in 
'  Beauty  and  the  Beast,'  as  mortal  roses  could  be  !  But 
the  adventure  was  not  over.  As  she  reached  the  stile 
she  heard  the  same  voice  beside  her  again.  The  stranger 
held  her  riding  whip,  which  Wych  Hazei  had  left  be- 
hind her  at  the  cottage  ;-  the  little  girl  had  met  him, 
bunging  it,  he  said.  And  then  he  went  on — 'It  is  im- 
possible not  to  know  that  I  am  speaking  to  Miss  Kenne- 
dy. I  am  a  stranger  in  the  country,  but  my  aunt.  Mine. 
Lasalee,  is  well  known  to  Mr.  Falkirk.  Will  Miss  Ken- 
nedy allow  me  to  assist  her  in  remounting? ' 

It  was  gracefully  said,  with  quietly  modulated  tones 
that  belong  only  to  a  high  grade  of  society,  and  the 
speaker  had  a  handsome  face  and  good  presence.  Nev- 
ertheless, Wych  Ha/el  had  no  mind  to  be  '  remounted  ' 
by  any  one,  and  was  very  near  saying  as  much  ;  for  in 
her,  '  temperament '  retarded  the  progress  of  convention- 
alism sadly.  As  it  was,  she  gave  him  a  hesitating 
assent,  and  received  his  proffered  assistance.  Then 
lifting  his  hat,  he  stood  while  she  passed  on. 

It  was  time  to  ride,  for  the  sky  was  dark  with  clouds, 
the  air  breathless,  and  sharp  growls  of  thunder  spoke 
in  the  distance,  at  every  one  of  which  Vixen  made  an 
uneasy  motion  of  ears  and  head,  to  show  what  she 
would  do  when  they  came  nearer. 

'\Ve  must  ride  for  it,  Dingee' — Miss  Hazel  said  to 
her  dark  attendant. 

'Reckon  we'll  get  it,  too,  Miss  Hazel,'  was  Dingee's 
reply,  and  a  heavy  drop  or  two  said  'yes,  it  is  com- 
ing.' Wych  Hazel  laughed  at  him,  cantering  along  on 
her  black  pony  like  a  brown  sprite,  the  rising  wind  mak- 
ing free  with  her  hair  and  hat  ribbands,  the  rose  spray 
made  fast  to  her  buttonhole.  But  as  she  dashed  out  of 


I08  WYCH    HAZEL. 

the  woods  upon  a  tract  of  open  country,  the  distance 
before  her  was  one  sheet  of  grey  rain  and  mist,  and  a 
near  peal  of  thunder  that  almost  took  Vixen  off  her 
feet,  showed  what  it  would  be  to  face  such  a  storm,  so 
mounted.  And  now  the  raindrops  began  to  patter 
near  at  hand. 

But  where  to  go  ?  She  had  passed  no  place  of  re- 
fuge in  the  woodland,  and  before  her  the  storm  hid  every 
thing  from  sight.  So,  after  a  second's  thought,  VVych 
Hazel  turned  and  flew  down  a  side  road  a  half  a  mile 
to  the  very  door  of  a  low  stone  house,  the  first  she  had 
seen,  sprang  off  her  frightened  pony,  and  darted  into 
the  open  hall  door,  leaving  Dingee  to  find  shelter  for 
himself  and  his  charge.  Then  she  began  to  wonder 
where  she  was,  arid  what  the  people  would  say  to  her; 
at  first  she  had  been  only  glad  to  get  off  Vixen's  back, 
the  pony  had  jumped  and  reared  at  such  a  rate  for 
the  last  five  minutes. 

In  the  hall,  which  at  a  glance  she  saw  was  square 
and  wide,  and  felt  was  flagged  with  stone,  stood  a  large 
packing  case  ;  and  about  it  and  so  busy  with  it  that  for  a 
second  they  did  not  observe  her,  were  a  girl  and  young 
man,  the  latter  knocking  off  boards  and  drawing  out 
nails  with  his  hammer,  while  the  other  hovered  over 
the  work  and  watched  it  absorbedly.  In  a  moment 
more  they  both  looked  up.  The  hammer  went  down 
and  with  a  face  of  illumination  Rollo  came  forward. 

'Why  here  she  is  ! '  he  exclaimed  gayly,  'dropped 
into  our  hands  !  and  as  wet  as  if  she  had  fallen  from 
the  clouds  literally.  Here  Rosy,  carry  off  this  lady 
to  your  domains.  This  is  Primrose  Maryland,  Miss 
Kennedy. 

A  primrose  she  evidently  was,  sweet  and  good  and 


VIXEN.  109 

fresh  like  one,  with  something  of  a  flower's  gravity,  too. 
That  could  be  seen  at  a  glance  ;  also  that  she  was  rath- 
er a  little  person,  though  full  and  plump  in  figure,  and 
hardly  pretty,  at  least  in  contrast  with  her  brilliant 
neighbour.  Wych  Hazel's  first  words  were  of  unbound- 
ed surprise. 

'  From  what  possible  part  of  the  clouds  did  you  fall, 
Mr.  Rollo !  ' — then  with  a  blush  and  a  look  of  apology 
to  Miss  Maryland,  '  I  ought  to  excuse  myself  ;  I  didn't 
know  where  I  was  coming.  And  my  horse  quite  refus- 
ed to  stand  upon  more  than  two  feet  at  once,  I  found 
the  storm  uncomfortable — and  so  jumped  off  and  ran 
in.  It's  the  fault  of  your  door  for  being  open,  Miss 
Maryland  ! ' 

'  I  am  very  glad,'  said  Primrose  simply.  '  The  door 
stood  open  because  it  was  so  hot.  We  were  going  to 
see  you  this  afternoon  but  the  storm  hindered  us.  Xow, 
will  you  come  up-stairs  and  get  on  something  dry  ? ' 


CHAPTER  XII. 
AT    DR.    MARYLAND'S. 

'"T^HEY  went  up  a  low  staircase  and  along  a  gal- 
J.  lery  to  Primrose's  room.  Large  and  low,  as  nice 
as  wax,  and  as  plain.  How  unlike  any  room  at  Chickaree, 
Wych  Hazel  could  not  help  feeling,  while  its  little  mis- 
tress was  opening  cupboards  and  drawers,  and  getting  out 
the  neatest  and  whitest  of  cambric  jackets  and  ruffles 
and  petticoats,  and  bringing  forth  all  accommodations  of 
combs  and  brushes.  Meanwhile  Wych  Hazel  could 
not  help  seeing  some  of  the  tokens  about  the  place  that 
told  what  kind  of  life  was  lived  there.  Its  spotlessly 
neat  and  orderly  condition  was  one  token  ;  but  there 
were  signs  of  business.  Work-baskets,  with  what  seem- 
ed fulness  of  work,  were  about  the  room  ;  books,  not 
in  great  numbers,  but  lying  in  little  business  piles,  with 
business  covers  and  the  marks  of  use.  Papers  were  on 
one  table  by  the  window,  with  pen  and  ink  and  pencil 
and  cards.  And  everywhere  a  simplicity  that  showed 
no  atom  of  needless  expenditure.  Very  unlike  Chick 
aree  ? 

Primrose  the   while   was   neat-handcdly   helping   to 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  in 

array  her  guest  in  fresh  apparel.  She  had  pretty  little 
hands,  and  they  were  quick  and  skilful  ;  and  as  she 
stooped  to  try  on  a  slipper  or  manage  a  fastening,  Wych 
Hazel  had  a  view  of  a  beautiful  head  of  fair  brown  hair, 
in  quiet  arrangement  that  did  not  show  all  its  beauty ; 
and  when  from  time  to  time  the  eyes  were  lifted,  she  saw 
that  they  were  very  good  eyes  ;  as  reposeful  as  a  moun- 
tain tarn,  and  as  deep  too.  where  lay  thought  shadows 
as  well  as  sunshine.  They  were  shining  eyes  now, 
with  secret  admiration  and  pleasure  and  good  will  and 
ea^er  interest. 

'  Are  you  come  to  stay  a  good  while  at  Chickaree  ? 
I  hope  you  will.' 

'Maybe — perhaps.  O  my  boots  are  not  wet.  Miss 
Maryland, — and  I  don't  think  I  caught  enough  rain- 
drops to  hurt.  How  kind  you  are  ! — And  how  well 
your  brother  describes  you.' 

'  Arthur  ? — I  wish  he  would  not  describe  me.  Chick- 
aree is  such  a  Ixautiful  place,  I  should  think  one  might 
like  to  stay  there.  I  have  been  hoping  about  it.  ever  since 
I  heard  you  \vere  coming.  Father  knows  Mr.  Falkirk, 
and  used  to  know  your  father  and  mother,  so  well,  that 
I  have  almost  felt  as  if  I  knew  you, — till  I  saw  you." 

'  And  you  don't  feel  so  now  ?'  with  a  shade  of  disap- 
pointment. 

'  No,'  said  Primrose  laughing.  '  But  I  am  sure  I 
shall  very  soon,  if  you  \\ill  let  me.  I  have  wished  for 
it  so  much  !  There,  won't  that  do?  It  is  lucky  I  had 
some  of  Prue's  things  here — mine  are  too  short.  Prue 
is  my  sister.  It  looks  veiy  nice,  I  think.' 

*  C  yes,'  her  guest  answered,  taking  up  her  bunch  of 
roses,  fresh  with  the  rain.  'Thank  you  very  much  ! 
But  why  do  you  say  that  about  your  brother  ? ' 


112  WVCH    HAZEL. 

'  Arthur  ? — O — descriptions  never  tell  the  truth.' 

'  I  am  sure  he  did,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  And  I  know 
I  would  give  anything  to  have  anybody  to  talk  so  about 
me.' 

Primrose  returned  a  somewhat  earnest  and  wonder- 
ing look  a.  her  new  friend  ;  then  took  her  hand  to  lead 
her  down  stairs. 

In  the  hall  they  found  Mr.  Rollo  ;  not  by  his  packing 
case  exactly,  for  he  had  taken  that  to  pieces,  and  the 
contents  stood  fair  to  view ;  a  very  handsome  new  sew- 
ing machine.  Surrounded  with  bits  of  board  and  litter, 
he  stood  examining  the  works  and  removing  dust  and 
bits  of  paper  and  string.  Over  the  litter  sprang  to  his 
side  Primrose  and  laid  her  hand  silently  in  his,  and 
with  downcast  eyes  stood  still  looking  at  the  machine. 
The  bright  eyes  under  their  lids  spoke  as  much  joy  as 
Rosy's  face  often  showed  ;  yet  she  was  perfectly  still. 

'Well?'  said  Rollo,  squeezing  the  little  hand  and 
looking  laughingly  clown  at  her. 

'  You  are  so  good  !  ' 

'  You  don't  think  it,'  said  he.  '  You  know  better ; 
and  as  you  always  speak  perfect  truth,  I  am  surprised  to 
hear  you/ 

'  You  are  good  to  me,'  said  Primrose  in  a  low  tone. 

'  I  should  be  a  pleasant  fellow  if  I  wasn't,'  said  he 
stooping  to  kiss  her,  at  which  the  flush  of  pleasure  on 
Rosy's  cheek  deepened  ;  '  but  in  the  meantime  it  is  prop- 
er we  should  look  after  the  comfort  of  our  prisoner.' 
Then  stepping  across  the  litter  to  where  Wych  Haze"/ 
stood,  he  went  on— '  You  know,  of  course,  that  you 
stand  in  that  relation  to  us,  Miss  Kennedy  ?  Primrose 
is  turnkey,  and  I  am  governor.  Would  you  like  to  see 
the  inside  of  the  jail  ? ' 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  113 

The  'prisoner'  had  stood  still  in  grave  wonderment 
at  people  and  things  generally  ;  especially  at  the  foot- 
ing Mr.  Rollo  seemed  to  have  in  this  house. 

'  Governor  to  a  steam  engine  is  an  easier  po.  t,'  she 
said,  throwing  off  her  thoughts. 

4 1  have  been  that' — he  said,  as  he  led  her  into  a  room 
on  the  right  of  the  hall. 

This  room  took  in  the  whole  depth  of  the  house,  hav- 
ing windows  on  three  sides  ;  low,  deep  windows,  looking 
green,  for  the  blinds  were  drawn  together.  The  ceiling 
was  low,  too  ;  and  from  floor  to  ceiling,  everywhere  ex- 
cept where  a  door  or  window  broke  the  space,  the  walls 
were  lined  with  books.  There  was  here  no  more  t!  an 
up  stairs  evidence  of  needless  money  outlay  ;  the  furni- 
ture was  chintz  covered,  the  table-covers  were  plain. 
But  easy  chairs  were  plenty  ;  the  tables  bore  writing- 
materials  and  drawing-materials  and  sewing-materials; 
and  books  lay  about,  open  from  late  handling  ;  and  a 
portfolio  of  engravings  stood  in  a  corner.  Kollo  put 
his  charge  in  an  easy  chair,  and  then  went  from  window 
to  window  throwing  open  the  blinds.  The  windows 
opened  upon  green  things,  trees  and  flowers  and  vines  ; 
the  air  came  in  fresher  ;  the  rain  was  softly  falling  fast 
and  thick,  and  yet  the  pale  light  cheered  up  the  whole 
place  wonderfully. 

'  Your  windows  are  all  shut,  Rosy  ! '  said  Rollo  as  he 
went  from  one  to  the  other — '  is  that  the  way  you  live  ? 
You  must  keep  them  open  now  I  am  come  home  ! ' 

'  It  was  so  hot,' — said  the  voice  of  Rosy  from  the 
hall. 

'  Hot?  that  is  the  very  reason.  What  are  you  about? 
Rosy  ! — ' 

He  went  to  the  door,  and  then  from  where  she  sat 
8 


114  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Wych  Hazel  could  see  the  prompt  handling  which  Rosy's 
endeavours  to  put  away  the  disorder  received.  She  was 
taken  off  from  picking  up  nails,  and  dismissed  into  the 
library  ;  while  Rollo  himself  set  diligently  about  gather- 
ing together  his  boards  and  rubbish.  Primrose  came  in 
smiling. 

'It  is  better  with  the  windows  open,'  she  said  ;  'but  [ 
was  so  busy  this  morning  I  believe  I  forgot.  And  fath- 
er never  comes  into  this  room  till  evening.  How  it 
rains  !  I  am  so  glad.' 

And  taking  a  piece  of  work  from  a  basket,  she  placed 
herself  near  Wych  Hazel  and  began  to  sew.  It  was  a 
pretty  home  picture,  such  as  Wych  Hazel — in  her  school 
life  and  ward  life — had  seen  few.  Just  why  it  made  her 
feel  quiet  she  could  not  have  told.  Yet  the  brown  eyes 
went  somewhat  gravely  from  Primrose  at  her  work  to  the 
hall  where  Rollo  felt  so  much  at  home — then  round  the 
room  and  towards  the  window,  watching  the  rain. 

'Won't  you  give  me  some  work  ? '  she  asked  suddenly. 

'  O  talk  ! '  said  Primrose,  looking  up.     '  Don't  work.' 

'It  takes  more  than  work  to  stop  my  mouth,'  said 
Wych  Hazel,  '  Ah,  I  can  work,  though  you  don't  believe 
it,  Miss  Rosy ;  do  please  give  me  that  ruffle — or  a  hand- 
kerchief,— don't  you  want  some  marked  ?  I  can  em- 
broider like  any  German.' 

Primrose  doubted  her  powers  of  sewing  and  talking 
both  at  once  ;  but  finally  supplied  her  with  an  immense 
white  cravat  to  hem,  destined  for  the  comfort  of  Dr. 
Maryland's  throat;  and  working  and  chatting  did  go  on 
very  steadily  for  some  time  thereafter,  both  girls  being 
intent  on  each  other  at  least,  if  not  on  the  hemming,  till 
Rollo  came  back.  He  interrupted  the  course  of  things. 

'  Now,'  said  Rollo,  '  I  am  going  to  ask  you  first,  Prim- 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  115 

rose — are  you  setting  about  to  make  Miss  Kennedy  as 
busy  as  yourself? ' 

'  I  wish  I  could,  you  know,'  said  Primrose,  half  smil- 
ing, half  wistfully. 

'  And  I  want  to  know  from  you,  Miss  Kennedy,  where 
Mr.  Falkirk  is  this  afternoon  ? ' 

'  In  the  depths  of  a  nap,  I  suppose.  Is  the  rain  slack- 
ening, Mr.  Rollo?' 

'  What  do  you  think  ? ' — as  with  a  fresher  puff  of  wind 
the  rush  of  the  raindrops  to  the  earth  seemed  to  be  more 
hurried  and  furious.  Wych  Hazel  listened,  but  did  not 
speak  her  thoughts.  Rollo  considered  her  a  little,  and 
then  drew  up  the  portfolio  stand  and  began  to  undo  the 
fastenings  of  the  portfolio. 

'  Do  you  like  this  sort  of  thing? ' 

'  Very  much.  O  I  don't  care  a  great  deal  about  them 
as  engravings,  I  suppose  ;  but  I  like  to  study  the  faces 
and  puzzle  over  the  lives.' 

'This  collection  is  nothing  remarkable  as  a  collection 
— but  it  may  serve  your  purpose,  perhaps.'  He  set  up 
a  large,  rather  coarse  print  of  Fortitude,  by  Sir  Joshua 
Reynolds.  The  figure  stands  erect,  armed  with  a  helmet 
and  plume,  one  hand  on  her  hip,  the  other  touching  just 
the  tip  of  one  finger  to  a  broken  column  by  her  side.  At 
her  feet  a  couchant  lion. 

'  Looking  at  that,  not  as  an  engraving,  which  wouldn't 
be  profitable,  what  do  you  see  ? ' 

4 1  was  trying  to  think  whether  she  was  Mr.  Falkirk's 
deal,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  after  a  somewhat  prolonged 
study  of  the  engraving.  '  She  is  not  mine.' 

'Why  not?' 

'  Yes,  she  isn't  mine,'  said  Primrose.  '  Why  not,  Miss 
Kennedy  ? ' 


Il6  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  always  says,  "  My  dear,  be  a  woman  and 
be  brave  ! " — But  I  think  she  fails  on  both  points.' 

'  I  don't  understand,'  said  Primrose,  while  Rollo's 
smile  grew  amused.  'I  don't  quite  understand  you, 
Miss  Kennedy.  She  looks  brave  to  me.' 

'  No,  she  don't,'  said  Wych  Hazel  decidedly  ;  '  any- 
body can  stick  on  a  helmet.  What  is  that  ha'f-asleep 
lion  for,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  He  isn't  half  asleep  ! '  said  Primrose.  '  He  looks 
very  grimly  enduring.  But  I  agree  with  Miss  Kennedy, 
that  Fortitude  should  not  wear  a  helmet,  with  a  plume  in 
it,  too  !  She  is  quite  as  apt  to  be  found  under  a  sun- 
bonnet,  I  think.' 

'  Bravo,  Prim  !  '  said  Rollo. 

'  And  she  ought  to  have  her  hands  crossed.' 

'  Crossed  ?  '  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Yes,  I  think  so.' 

'This  fashion  ?' said  the  girl  folding  her  tiny  hands 
across  her  breast.  'They  would  not  stay  there  two 
seconds,  if  /was  enduring  anything.' 

Rosy  crossed  her  own  hands  after  another  fashion, 
and  was  silent. 

'  Plow  do  you  generally  hold  your  hands  when  you 
are  enduring  anything  ? '  Rollo  asked  the  other  speaker 
demurely. 

'Ah,  now  you  are  laughing  at  me  !  '  she  said.  '  But 
I  don't  think  I  quite  understand  passive,  inactive  forti- 
tude. I  like  Niobe's  arms,  all  wrapped  about  her  child, 
— do  you  remember  ? ' 

'  1  remember.    But  you  don't  call  ///#/ fortitude,  do  you  ? ' 

'  Yes,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  She  was  dying  by  inches  ! 
— and  yet  her  arms  look,  so  strong !  I  am  sure  she  didn't 
know  whether  they  were  crossed  or  uncrossed.' 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S. 


117 


'  Do  you  think  that  lion  there  in  the  corner  looks  like 
Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

'  No,  indeed  !  Mr.  Falkirk  would  take  a  good  deal 
more  notice  of  me,  if  /  was  balancing  myself  on  one 
finger,'  said  Wych  Ha/el. 

'What  is  that  one  finger  for?'  said  Primrose. 

'  Do  you  ask  that.  Rosy  ?  To  show  that  she  has  noth- 
ing earthly  to  lean  upon.  She  just  touches  the  pillar, 
as  much  as  to  say  it  i-.  broken  and  of  no  use  to  her. 
Perhaps  her  confidence  is  in  that  .slumbering  lion, — Is 
that  another  representation  of  fortitude  ? ' 

He  had  hid  Sir  Joshua's  picture  with  an  engraving  of 
Delarochc's  Marie  Antoinette  leaving  the  Tribunal. 

'  She  knew  what  it  meant,  I  should  think,  if  any- 
body did.  But  must  fortitude — real  fortitude — be  always 
unhappy  ?'  said  Ha/el  looking  pjrplexedlv  at  the  picture. 

Rollo  turned  back  to  the  Reynolds.  '  You  \\ere  both 
wrong  about  this,'  said  he  ;  'at  least  I  think  so.  Real  for- 
titude ilt'fs  figuratively,  go  helmeted  and  phmcd.  She  en- 
dures so  perfectly  that  she  does  not  serin  io  endure.  1  n  this 
representation  the  lion  shows  you  tin.-  mental  condition 
which  lies  hid  behind  that  fair,  slern  front.  Now  is  Marie 
Antoinette  like  that  ?'  He  turned  the  pictures  again. 

'  I  cannot  tell  ! '  said  Wych  Ha/el.  'One  minute  her 
fortitude  looks  just  like  pride. — and  then  when  you  re- 
member all  she  had  to  bear,  it's  not  strange  if  she  called 
up  pride  to  help  her.  But  it  is  not  my  ideal  yet. 

'  1  think  it  is  pride.'  said  Rollo.  'So  it  looks  to  me. 
Pride  and  grief  facing  down  death  and  humiliation. 
Marie  Theresa's  daughter  and  Louis  Capet's  queen  ac- 
knowledging no  degradation  before  her  enemies — giving 
them  no  tiiumph  that  she  could  help.  But  that  is  not 
my  ideal  either.'  , 


IX8  WYCH    HAZEL. 

He  brought  out  another  print. 

'  I  always  like  that,'  said  Primrose. 

'  I  do  not  know  it,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Don't  you  ?  it  is  very  common.  It  is  the  eve  of  St. 
Bartholomew.  This  Catholic  girl  wants  to  tie  a  white 
favour  round  her  lover's  arm,  to  save  him  from  the  mas- 
sacre soon  to  begin.  She  has  had  the  misfortune  to  love 
a  Huguenot.  White  favours,  you  remember,  were  the  mark 
by  which  the  Catholics  were  to  know  each  other  in  the 
confusion.' 

'  And  he  will  not  let  her.  Was  it  a  misfortune,  I  won- 
der?' 

'  What  ? '  said  Primrose. 

'  To  love  somebody  so  much  nobler  than  herself.  How 
gentle  he  is  in  hi.s  earnestness  ! ' 

'  Don'i  be  hard  upon  her,'  said  Rollo.  'Are  you  sure 
you  wouldn't  do  so  in  her  place  ? ' 

'No, — '  she  said,  looking  gravely  up  at  him. 

'  She  knew  it  was  death  to  go  without  that  whitehand- 
kerchief.' 

'But,'  said  Primrose  softly,  'wouldn't  you  rather  have 
him  die  true,  than  live  dishonoured  ? ' 

'  I  think  I  should  have  tried,'  said  Wych  Hazel, — 
'  knowing  I  should  fail.  And  then  I  should  have  thrown 
away  my  own  favour,  and  gone  with  him  wherever  he 
went.' 

'  He  wouldn't  have  let  you  do  that  either,'  said  Rollo. 

'Then  he  would  not  have  loved  me  as  I  loved  him,' 
said  the  girl,  very  decidedly. 

'  He'd  have  been  a  pretty  fellow ! '  said  Rollo,  as  he 
turned  the  next  print.  It  was  a  contrast  to  the  St.  Bar- 
tholomew ;  a  Madonna  and  child,  from  Fra  Bartholomeo, 
at  which  they  were  all  content  to  look  silently.  Rollo 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  119 

began  to  talk,  then,  instead  of  asking  questions,  and  made 
himself  very  interesting.  So  much  he  knew  of  art  mat- 
tors,  so  many  a  story  and  legend  he  could  tell  about  the 
masters,  and  so  well  he  could  help  the  less  initiated  to 
enjoy  and  understand  the  work.  So  letting  himself  out  in 
a  sort  of  play-fashion,  the  portfolio  proved  the  nucleus 
of  a  delightful  hour's  entertainment  At  the  end  of 
that  time  a  turn  was  given  to  things  by  the  coming  in  of 
an  old  black  woman  with  a  very  high,  coloured  turban  on 
her  head  and  a  teakettle  and  a  chafing  dish  of  coals  in 
her  hands.  Rollo  shut  up  his  portfolio. 

'  What  is  your  view,  practically,  of  things  at  present, 
Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'Mr.  Falkirk  says  I  never  took  a  practical  view  of 
things  in  my  life,  Mr.  Rollo.  The  impracticable  view 
seems  to  be,  that  it  is  tea  time  and  I  ought  to  go  home.' 

'What  do  you  think  of  the  plan  of  letting  Mr.  Falkirk 
know  where  you  are  ? ' 

'Yes,  I  ought  to  do  that,'  said  his  ward,  'Where  is 
Dingee  ? — I  will  send  him  right  off.' 

'Will  you  write,  or  shall  I  ? '  said  Rollo,  drawing  out 
paper  and  pen  ready  on  one  of  the  tables. 

She  glanced  at  him  as  if  in  momentary  wonder  that  he 
should  offer  to  write  her  despatch,  then  ran  off  the  most 
summary  little  note,  twisted  it  into  a  knot  of  compli- 
cations, and  again  asked  for  Dingee.  Rollo  gently  but 
saucily  put  his  own  fingers  upon  the  twisted  note  and 
bore  it  away. 

The  business  of  the  tea-making  and  preparing  was  go- 
ing on  ;  and  both  Primrose  and  her  old  assistant  bustled 
about  the  tea  table,  getting  things  ready  and  Dr.  Mary- 
land's chair  in  its  right  place.  A  quiet  bustle,  very  pleasant 
in  the  eyes  of  Wych  Hazel,  with  all  its  homely  and  sweet 


120  WYCH    HAZEL. 

meanings.  The  light  had  softened  a  little,  and  still 
came  through  a  grey  veil  of  rain  ;  odours  of  rose  and 
sweet-briar  and  evening  primroses  floated  in  on  the  warm, 
moist  air,  and  mingled  with  the  steam  of  the  tea-kettle 
and  the  fume  in  the  chafing-dish  ;  and  the  patter,  patter 
of  rain  drops,  and  the  dash  of  wet  leaves  against  each 
other,  were  a  foil  to  the  tea-kettle's  song.  Wych  Hazel 
looked  on,  musingly,  till  Rollo  came  back  and  took  her 
round  the  room  looking  at  books.  Then  offering  her 
his  arm,  he  somewhat  suddenly  brought  her  face  to  face 
with  some  one  just  entering  by  the  door. 

An  old  gentleman  ;  Wych  Hazel  knew  at  once  who  it 
must  be.  Middle-sized,  stout,  with  rather  thin  locks  of 
white  hair,  and  a  face  not  otherwise  remarkable  than 
for  its  look  of  habitual  high  thought  and  pure  goodness. 
It  took  but  a  moment  to  see  so  much  of  him.  She  stop- 
ped short,  and  then  came  close  up  to  him. 

'  Is  this  your  charge,  Dane  ?  Is  this  little  Wych  Hazel  ?' 
he  went  on  more  tenderly,  and  folding  her  in  his  arms. 
'  My  dear,'  he  said,  kissing  her  brow,  '  I  hope  you  will  be 
as  good  a  woman  as  your  mother  was  !  I  am  very  glad 
to  see  you  ! — very  glad  indeed  ! ' 

She  did  not  answer  at  first,  looking  up  into  his  face 
with  a  wistful,  searching  look  that  was  a  little  eager  ; 
standing  quite  still,  as  if  the  enclosing  arms  were  very 
pleasant  to  her. 

'  Yes  sir,'  she  said,  « I  am  Wych  Hazel.  But  why  are 
you  glad  to  see  me  ? ' 

'  My  dear,  I  knew  your  mother  and  father  ;  and  I  have 
a  great  interest  in  you.  I  am  told  you  will  be  queen  of 
a  large  court  up  yonder  at  Chickaree.' 

She  laughed  a  little,  and  coloured,  looking  down,  then 
back  into  his  face  again. 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  121 

'  Will  you  like  me,  sir,  all  you  can  ? ' 

'  All  you  will  give  me  a  chance  for.  So  you  must  let 
us  see  you  a  great  deal ;  for  affection  must  grow,  you 
know;  it  cannot  be  commanded.  Sit  down,  my  dear, 
sit  down ;  Primrose  is  ready  for  us.' 

It  was  a  right  pleasant  meal  !  There  was  no  servant 
waiting  ;  the  little  informalities  of  helping  themselves 
suited  well  with  the  quiet  home  ease  and  the  song  of  the 
tea-kettle.  Primrose  made  toast  for  her  father,  and 
Hollo  blew  the  coals  to  a  red  heat  to  hasten  the  opera- 
tion. Dr.  Maryland  sometimes  talked  and  sometimes 
was  silent ;  and  his  talk  was  of  an  absolute  simplicity 
that  neither  knew  in  his  own  nor  imagined  in  other  peo- 
ple's minds  any  reserves  of  dark  corners.  Primro.se 
talked  little,  but  was  lovingly  watchful  not  only  of  her 
father,  but  of  VVych  Haxel.  and  Hollo  too;  who  on  his 
part  was  watchful  enough  over  everybody. 

'  And  my  dear,'  said  Dr.  Maryland,  '  why  did  you  not 
bring  Mr.  Falkirk  with  you  ? ' 

'  Well,  sir,  to  begin — i  did  not  know  I  was  coming 
myself !  1  was  out  riding,  and  the  rain  came — and  1 
jumped  off  into  the  first  open  door  i  could  see.  And 
then  Miss  Maryland  let  me  stay.' 

'  But  Mr.  Falkirk,  my  dear — where's  he  ?  ' 

'  Safe  at  home,  sir.  Wre  have  been  seeking  our  for- 
tune together,  but  to-night  we  got  separated.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  went  back  and  left  you  ? '  said  Dr.  Mary- 
land, looking  surprised. 

'  No,  sir,  I  went  ahead  and  left  him.  That  is,'  she 
added,  smothering  a  laugh,  '  he  did  not  set  out  at  all.' 

'  I  thought — I  thought,  you  said  you  were   together?' 

1  Only  in  a  general  way,  sir.  On  all  special  occasions 
we  divide. 


122  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  What  did  you  say  you  were  doing  ?  seeking  your  for- 
tune ?' 

'  I  set  out  to  seek  mine,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  and  of 
course  poor  Mr.  Falkirk  has  to  go  along  to  look  on.  He 
doesn't  help  me  one  bit.' 

'To  seek  your  fortune,  my  dear?  '  said  Dr.  Maryland, 
looking  benignly  curious ;  '  What  sort  of  a  fortune  are 
you  looking  for  ? ' 

'  Why  I  don't  know,  sir.  If  I  knew, — it  would  be  half 
found  already,  wouldn't  it  ? '  said  the  girl. 

4  But  my  dear — did  Mr.  Falkirk  never  tell  you  that 
fortunes  ate  never  found  ready  made  ? ' 

'  He  objected,  because  he  said  mine  was  ready  made 
— but  that  made  no  difference  from  my  point  of  view. 
And  then  he  said  he  thought  our  road  would  "end  in  a 
squirrel  track,  and  run  up  a  tree."  And  do  you  know,  sir,' 
said  Wych  Hazel,  the  hidden  merriment  flashing  out  all 
over  her  face,  '  that  was  what  it  really  did  ! ' 

'  Did  what,  my  dear  ? ' 

'I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,'  she  said,  trying  to  steady 
her  voice  and  bring  out  words  instead  of  a  burst  of 
laughter,  —  'but — that  is  a  wild  Western  expression, 
which  Mr.  Falkirk  used  to  signify  that  we  should  get 
into  difficulties.' 

'  Why  did  Mr.  Falkirk  think  you  would  get  into  diffi- 
culties ? ' — Dr.  Maryland  had  not  found  the  scent  yet. 

'  I  don't  think  he  has  much  opinion  of  my  prudence, 
sir, — and  believes  firmly  that  every  one  who  goes  off  the 
highway  finds  rough  ground.  Now  I  like  a  jolt  now  and 
then — it  wakes  one  up.' 

'  Do  you  want  to  find  rough  ground,  my  dear? ' 

'  I  don't  mean  really  rough,  sir,  in  one  sense,  but  un- 
even— varied,  and  stirring,  and  uncommonplace,  It 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  12^5 

seems  to  me  that  I  have  a  whole  set  of  energies  that 
never  come  into  play  upon  ordinary  occasions.  I  should 
weary  to  death  of  the  lives  some  people  lead — three 
meals  a  day,  and  a  cigar,  and  a  newspaper.  I  think  I 
should  fast  once  a  week,  for  variety — and  smoke  my 
cigar  wrong  end  first — if  there  are  two  ends  to  it.' 

'  I  heard  a  lady  say  the  other  day,  that  there  was  no 
end  to  them,' — observed  Rollo. 

'  Dr.  Maryland  looked  at  her  on  his  part,  smiling,  and 
quite  awake  now  to  the  matter  in  hand.  Yet  he  was 
silent  a  minute  before  speaking. 

'  Have  you  laid  your  plan,  my  dear  ?  I  should  very 
much  like  to  know  what  it  is  !  ' 

'No,  sir,'  she  said,  shaking  her  head  with  a  depreca- 
tory little  laugh.  'Of  course  I  have  not !  People  in  fairy 
tales  never  do.' 

1  Life  is  not  a  fairy  tale,  Haxel,'  said  Dr.  Maryland, 
shaking  his  head  a  little.  'My  dear,  you  are  a  real  woman. 
Did  you  ever  think  what  you  would  try  to  dointhe  world? 
— what  you  would  try  to  do  with  your  life,  I  mean?' 

'Do  with  it  ?'  the  girl  repeated,  her  brown  eyes  on 
the  Doctor's  face  as  if  looking  for  his  meaning.  'I 
think,  I  should  like  to  enjoy  it.  if  I  could.  And  it  has 
been  very  commonplace,  lately,  sir.  Mr.  Falkirk  don't 
pet  me  and  play  with  me  as  he  used  to — and  he  won't 
let  me  play  with  him  ;  not  much.' 

The  smile  which  quivered  on  Dr.  Maryland's  face 
changed  and  passed  into  a.  sort  of  sweet  gravity. 

'  There  is  one  capital  way  to  get  out  of  commonplace,' 
he  said  ;  '  but  it  isn't  play,  my  dear.  If  you  set  about 
doing  what  God  would  have  you  do  with  yourself,  there 
will  be  no  dullness  in  your  life,  and  no  lack  of  enjoy- 
ment, either.' 


124  WYCH    HAZEL. 

She  looked  at  him  again — then  down;  but  made  no 
answer. 

'  Somebody  has  written  an  essay,  that  I  read  lately,' 
Dr.  Maryland  went  on — '  an  essay  on  the  monotony  oL 
piety.  Poor  man  !  he  did  not  know  what  he  was  talk 
mg  about.  The  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God  . 
— that  was  something  beyond  his  experience  ; — and  the 
joy  of  their  service.  It  is  what  redeems  everything  else 
from  monotony.  It  glorifies  what  is  insignificant,  and 
dignifies  what  is  mean,  and  lifts  what  is  low,  and  turns 
the  poor  little  business  steps  of  every  day  into  rounds  of 
Heaven's  golden  ladder.  I  verily  think  I  could  have 
hanged  myself  long  ago,  for  the  very  monotony  of  all 
things  else,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  life  and  glory  of 
religion  ! ' 

'  Why  papa  !  '  said  Primrose. 

'  I  would,  my  dear,  I  do  think.'  He  was  silent  a  mo- 
ment ;  then  subsiding  from  the  excited  fire  with  which 
he  had  spoken,  he  turned  to  Wych  Hazel  and  went  on 
gently, — 

'  What  else  do  you  want  to  do,  my  dear,  that  is  not  to 
be  done  in  that  track  ?  you  want  adventures  ? ' 

'  Yes,  sir,'  she  answered,  without  looking  up,  half 
hesitating,  a  little  grave.  '  I  think  I  do.  And  more 
people  about, — people  to  love  me.  and  that  I  can  love. 
Of  course  I  love  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  added,  correcting 
herself,  'very  much  ;  but  that  is  different.  And  there's 
nobody  else  but  the  servants.' 

'  O  do  come  here  ! '  cried  Primrose  ;  '  and  love  us.' 

1 1  do  not  wonder  Mr.  Falkirk  gives  no  help,'  said 
Rollo,  a  little  quizzically. 

'  Will  you  try  Primrose's  expedient,  my  dear  ? '  said 
Dr.  Maryland,  very  benignly.  '  Half  your  requisition 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  125 

you  will  certainly  find.  Whether  you  can  love  us,  I  don't 
know  ;  but  there's  no  knowing  without  trying.' 

She  gave  one  of  her  sweet  childish  looks  of  answer  to 
both  the  first  and  last  speaker  ;  but  Mr.  Rollo  was  fav- 
oured with  a  small  reproof. 

'  You  must  not  speak  so  of  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said. 
'  He  has  been  the  kindest  possible  friend  to  me.  And  [ 
think  he  loves  me  wonderfully,  considering  how  I  have 
tried  his  patience.  Just  think  what  it  is  for  a  grave, 
quiet,  grown-up,  sensible  man,  to  have  the  plague  of  a 
girl  like  me  !  Very  few  men  would  stand  it  at  all,  Mr. 
Rollo  ;  but  Mr.  Falkirk  never  said  a  rough  word  to  me 
in  his  life.' 

She  was  so  grave,  so  innocent,  so  ignorant  in  it  all, 
the  effect  was  indescribably  funny. 

4  I  should  think  very  few  men  would  stand  it/  said 
Rollo,  composedly  ;  but  Primrose  and  her  father  smiled. 

1  Mr.  Falkirk  is  an  admirable  man,  said  Dr.  Maryland. 
'You  are  a  good  witness  for  him,  lla/.el.' 

'  If  I  would  only  do  all  he  wants  me  to  !  '  she  said 
with  a  slight  shake  of  the  head.  '  But  I  cannot,  and  he 
says  I  don't  know  what  I  want.  Lut  Dr.  Maryland — all 
the  nice,  proper  people  1  have  ever  seen,  live  on  such  a 
dead  level — it  would  kill  me.  They  think  dancing  is 
wrong,  and  Italian  a  loss  of  time,  and  "  it  s  a  pity  to 
waste  my  young  years  upon  German."  And  they  can't 
talk  of  a  book,  but  some  life  of  a  missionary  who  was 
eaten  by  cannibals, — 1  was  very  sorry  he  went  there,  to 
be  sure,  but  that  didn't  make  me  want  to  hear  about  it, 
nor  to  go  myself.  They  are  just  like  peach  trees  trim- 
med up  and  nailed  to  a  wall,  and  I'd  rather  be  wild 
Wych  Hazel  in  the  woods,  though  it's  of  no  sort  of  use, 
and  nobody  cares  for  it !  '  Dr.  Maryland  might  guess 


I26  WYCH    HAZEL. 

from  this  frank  out-pouring,  how  seldom  it  was  that  the 
stream  of  young  thoughts  found  such  an  exit,  how  com- 
plete was  the  trust  which  called  it  forth.  She  had  quite 
forgotten  her  tea.  And  the  doctor  forgot  his  ;  and  bent 
his  gray  head  towards  her  brown  one. 

'But  suppose,  my  dear,' (how  different  this  from  Mr. 
Falkirk's  '  my  dear,') — '  suppose  the  bush  were  a  con- 
scious thing  ;  and  suppose  that  while  it  remained  in  the 
woods  and  remained  entirely  itself,  it  could  yet  by  be- 
ing submitted  to  some  sweet  influence  be  made  so  frag- 
rant that  its  influence  should  be  known  all  through  the 
forest ;  and  its  nuts,  instead  of  being  wild,  useless  things, 
should  every  one  of  them  bring  a  gift  of  healing  or  of  life 
to  the  hands  that  should  gather  them  ?  I  would  rather  it 
should  stay  in  the  woods ; — and  I  never  think  anything 
trained  against  a  wall  is  as  good  as  that  which  has  the 
sun  all  round  it.' 

Wych  Hazel  looked  at  him  with  no  sort  of  doubt  in 
her  eyes  that  he  had  been  "  submitted  to  some  sweet  in- 
fluence." And  perhaps  it  was  the  image  he  had  drawn, 
that  brought  a  little  tremour  round  her  lips,  as  she  an- 
swered : 

'  I  do  not  want  to  be  a  wild,  bitter,  useless  thing, — 
maybe  that  is  what  Mr.  Falkirk  is  afraid  of,  too.' 

'  I  believe,'  said  Dr.  Maryland,  '  that  He  who  made 
all  the  varieties  of  plants  in  the  world,  and  made  men  as 
various,  never  meant  that  one  should  take  the  form  or 
place  of  another.  If  it  fills  its  own,  and  fills  it  perfect- 
ly, it  glorifies  Him  ;  and  does  just  what  it  was  meant  to 
do.' 

'  Not  to  mention  the  fact,'  said  Rollo,  '  that  Wych 
Hazel  could  not  conveniently  personate  a  pine  tree  or 
Primrose  a  blackthorn.' 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S. 


127 


But  at  the  entrance  of  this  gentleman  as  Privy  Coun 
seller,  Wych  Hazel  withdrew  her  affairs  from  public 
notice ;  however  much  inclined  to  vindicate  her  power 
of  personating  what  she  liked,  especially  pine  trees. 
She  dropped  the  subject  and  took  up  her  bread  and 
butter.  And  so  did  Dr.  Maryland,  for  a  while  ;  but  he 
eat  thoughtfully.  There  was  a  pause,  during  which  Prim- 
rose was  affectionately  solicitous  over  Wych  Hazel's 
cup  of  tea,  and  Rollo  piled  strawberries  upon  her  plate. 
Tea  had  been  rather  neglected. 

'And  what  have  you  been  doing,  Hazel,  all  these 
past  twelve  years  ? '  said  the  doctor,  breaking  out  afresh. 
1  Twelve  years ! — it  is  twelve  years.  What  have  you 
done  with  them,  my  dear  ? ' 

4 1  was  at  school,  you  know,  sir,  for  a  while,  and  then 
I  had  no  end  of  tutors  and  teachers  at  home.'  She 
drew  a  long  breath. 

'  And  what  are  you  going  to  do  Trith  the  next  twelve 
years  ? — if  you  should  live  so  long.  What  are  you 
going  to  try  to  do  with  them,  I  mean  ? ' 

'  I  want  to  try  to  have  a  good  time,  sir.' 

'  And  you  will  be  a  queen,  and  hold  your  court  at 
Chickaree  ? ' 

She  laughed — her  pretty,  free  laugh  of  pleasure. 

'  So  Mr.  Falkirk  says.  Only  he  does  not  call  me  a 
queen — he  calls  me  a  mouse  ! ' 

Dr.  Man-land  laughed  too,  at  her  or  with  her,  a  rare 
thing  for  him,  but  returned  to  his  grave  tenderness  of 
look  and  tone.  '  Ah,  little  Hazel,'  he  said,  '  you  are  in 
a  dangerous  place,  my  child,  with  your  court  up  there. 
Do  you  know,  that  when  you  and  the  world  you  want 
to  see,  come  together, — either  you  will  change  it,  or  it 
will  change  you  ? — that  is  why  I  asked  you  what  you 


I28  WYCH    HAZEL. 

were  going  to  do  with  the  next  twelve  years.  That  was 
a  great  word  of  Paul,  when  his  years  were  almost  over, 
— "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  kept  the  faith. 
Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me 
at  that  day  !  "  ' 

He  was  silent,  but  so  grave,  so  sweet,  so  rapt,  had 
been  the  tone  of  the  last  words,  that  they  all  kepi 
silence  likewise.  Dr.  Maryland's  head  fell,  he  seemed 
to  be  seeing  something  not  before  him  ;  presently  he 
went  on  speaking  to  himself. 

' "  And  not  to  me  only, — but  to  all  them  that  love 
his  appearing." — My  dear,'  suddenly  to  Wych  Hazel, — 
'  will  you  love  his  appearing,  when  it  comes  ? ' 

She  ? — how  could  she  tell  ?  to  whom  not  only  the 
question  but  almost  the  very  thought  were  new.  He 
did  not  pursue  that  subject.  Presently  he  left  the  table 
and  stood  up,  or  walked  up  and  down  behind  it ;  while 
under  the  sense  of  his  talk  and  his  thought  and  his 
presence,  they  were  all  quiet ;  finishing  their  supper  as 
docilely  as  so  many  children.  And  a  reflection  from 
him  was  on  all  their  faces,  making  each  one  more  pure 
and  bright  than  its  own  wont. 

He  stayed  with  the  young  people  after  tea,  instead  of 
going  to  his  study ;  and  the  evening  was  full  of  grave 
interest,  which  also  no  one  wished  less  grave.  He 
talked  much,  sometimes  with  Wych  Hazel,  sometimes 
with  Rollo ;  and  Rollo  was  very  amusing  and  interest- 
ing in  meeting  his  inquiries  and  remarks  about  German 
universities  and  university  life.  The  talk  flowed  on  to 
other  people  and  things  abroad,  where  Hollo  had  for 
some  years  lately  been.  The  doctor  grew  animated 
and  drew  him  out,  and  every  now  and  then  drew  Wych 


AT  DR.  MARYLAND'S.  129 

Hazel  in,  giving  her  much  of  his  attention  and  perhaps 
scrutiny  also,  though  that  was  veiled. 

The  talk  kept  them  up  late.  As  they  were  about 
separating  for  the  night  Rollo  asked  Wych  Hazel  if  she 
had  found  any  cats  at  Chickaree  ? 

'  What  do  you  mean  ? '  she  said  quickly.  '  O — I 
remember' — and  the  light  danced  over  her  face.  'I 
haven't  had  much  time  to  find  anything.  What  did 
you  do  with  my  poor  kitten  up  on  the  mountain,  Mr. 
Rollo  ? ' 

'  I  was  going  to  ask  you  whether  you  would  like  to 
see  an  old  friend.' 

'  Yes,  to  be  sure.  You  do  not  mean  that  my  little 
pussy  is  here? 

"  You  shall  have  her  to-morrow.' 
9 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE   GREY   COB. 

MORNING  has  come,  and  the  Queen  of  Chick- 
aree must  return  to  hold  her  court.  Little 
guesses  the  Queen  what  a  court  is  gathering  for  her. 
While  she  is  quietly  eating  her  breakfast  at  Dr.  Mary- 
land's, Mine.  Lasalle  is  ordering  her  horses,  to  make  a 
call  upon  her  in  the  course  of  the  morning,  and  Mr. 
Kingsland  is  thinking  in  what  cravat  he  shall  adorn 
himself  when  he  goes  to  do  the  same  thing  in  the  after- 
noon. For  Mr.  Kingsland  has  arrived  at  home,  where 
he  and  his  old  father  keep  a  bachelor  sort  of  household 
in  a  decayed  old  house  at  one  extremity  of  Crocus. 
They  have  a  respectable  name,  folks  say,  but  not  wealth 
to  set  it  off ;  and  the  household  is  small.  The  same 
little  boy  who  rubs  down  Mr.  Kingsland's  horse  waits 
upon  table,  and  there  is  nobody  else  but  a  housekeeper. 
But  Mr.  Morton  is  thinking  he  will  call  too ;  and  Mr. 
Morton  is  a  man  of  means ;  he  owns  a  large  part  of 
Mill  Hollow,  called  also  Morton  Hollow.  He  occupies 
a  great  old  brick  house  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Hollow,  and  keeps  it  in  excellent  repair,  and  the  grass 


THE   GREY   COB.  131 

of  the  lawn  is  well  shaven.  Mr.  Morton  is  well  off  and  has 
servants  enough,  but  he  has  years  enough  too  ;  Mr.  Mor- 
ton must  be  forty.  Nevertheless  he  thinks  he  will  call. 

Then  there  is  Mrs.  ex-Governor  Powder  also  ;  she 
lives  in  a  very  good  house,  and  in  an  irreproachable  man- 
ner, at  a  fine  place  called  Valley  Garden,  ten  miles  off. 
Mrs.  Powder  is  an  excellent  woman,  a  stately  lady, 
knows  what  is  what,  and  has  been  a  beauty,  and  held  a 
court  of  her  own.  Indeed  she  is  of  a  proud  old  family, 
and  married  a  little  beneath  her  when  she  married  the 
man  who  afterwards  became  Governor  Powder.  l»ut 
what  would  you  have  ?  Women  must  be  married. 
Mrs.  Powder  will  come  to  see  Miss  Kennedy  ;  she  is 
thinking  abaut  it  ;  but  probablv  she  will  not  conic  till 
to-morrow  or  the  day  after  ;  she  is  nut  in  a  hurrv. 
Mine.  Lasallo  is  ;  and  so  is  the  gentleman  of  the  n»es, 
her  nephew.  Meanwhile  Miss  Kennedy  knows  nothing 
of  all  this,  nor  how  furthermore  the  Lawyer's  wife  and 
the  Doctor's  mother  (for  there  is  another  doctor  at 
Crocus)  are  meditating  how  soon  they  may  ask  Miss 
Kennedy  to  dinner  or  to  supper,  and  how  soon  it  will  do 
to  go  and  ask  her.  Thev  are  afraid  of  seeming  in  a 
hurry.  Meanwhile  Miss  Kennedy  eats  her  breakfast. 

Breakfast  is  had  in  the  stone  hall,  with  the  doors 
open  front  and  rear  and  the  Summer  clay  looking  in  at 
them.  It  is  very  pleasant,  and  the  old  black  woman, 
Portia,  comes  and  goes  without  interfering  with  the  talk 
at  table.  The  sewing  machine  stands  at  one  side  of  the 
hall  still. 

'  What  new  affair  have  you  got  there,  my  daughter  ? ' 
says  the  doctor. 

'  It's  a  sewing  machine,  papa,  which  Duke  has  brought 
me.' 


1^2  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  A  sewing  machine  !  What  are  you  going  to  do  with 
it?' 

'  Put  her  work  in  her  pocket,  I  hope,  sir.  I  am  tired 
of  seeing  it  in  her  hand.' 

'  It  is  very  good  of  you,  Duke ;  but  can  she  manage 
it? 

'  Not  yet,  sir.  Neither  of  us  can.  We  are  going  to 
find  out.' 

*  Well,  what's  the  advantage  of  it  ? ' 

'  I  brought  it  up,  sir,  in  the  hope  and  persuasion  that 
it  would  undertake  the  clothing  of  all  the  poor  people 
at  Crocus,  and  give  Rosy  time  to  read  philosophy.' 

'  Why  papa,'  said  Rosy,  '  it  will  do  fifteen  hundred 
stitches  a  minute  ! ' 

'  You  don't  want  to  do  more  than  that  in  a  day,  do 
you,  my  dear  ? '  said  the  doctor,  with  an  expression  of 
such  innocent  amazement,  not  without  some  dismay, 
that  they  all  burst  out"  laughing  ;  and  Dr.  Maryland  but 
half  enlightened,  went  off  to  his  study. 

Much  before  Primrose  wished  it,  the  horses  came  to 
the  door.  Rollo  had  had  his  own  saddle  put  upon  Vixen, 
and  the  grey  cob  stood  charged  with  the  paraphernalia 
which  should  accompany  the  mistress  of  Chickaree. 
She  had  gone  up  to  prepare  for  her  ride,  and  now  came 
to  the  front  in  habit  and  gauntlets  and  whip,  the  rose 
branch  at  her  button-hole. 

'  O,'  she  said  in  tones  so  like  a  bird  that  the  groom 
might  have  been  pardoned  for  looking  up  into  the 
maple  boughs  over  his  head  to  find  her;  'you  have 
made  a  mistake  !  The  other  horse  is  the  one  I  ride. 
Will  you  change  the  saddles,  please  ? — I  am  sorry  to 
give  you  the  trouble  ! ' 

The  groom  would  have  been  in  great  bewilderment, 


THE   GREY   COB.  133 

but  that  luckily  his  master  stood  there  too.  The  man's 
look  of  appeal  was  comical,  going  from  one  to  another. 
Rollo  was  looking  at  girths  and  buckles,  and  did  not 
seem  to  hear.  Wych  Hazel  waited — a  slight  growing 
doubt  on  the  subject  of  his  deafness  not  increasing  the 
pliability  of  her  mood.  Then  he  came  towards  her,  and 
asked  if  she  was  ready  ? 

'  I  am — but  my  horse  is  not.' 

'  What  is  the  matter  with  him  ? ' 

'  I  am  very  sorry  to  make  any  delay,  Mr.  Rollo,  but 
the  saddles  will  have  to  be  changed.  I  can't  ride  that 
grey  horse  ! '  And  she  slipped  her  hat  back  and  sat 
down  on  the  doorstep,  to  await  the  process. 

'There  is  no  mistake,'  said  Rollo.  'The  horses  were 
saddled  by  my  order.  I  told  him  to  give  you  the  grey. 
You  will  forgive  me,  I  hope  !  ' 

'  Without  asking  me ! '  she  said,  giving  him  a  rather 
wide-open  look  of  her  eyes,  and  then  in  a  tone  as  cool 
as  his  own — 

1 1  shall  ride  Vixen,  Mr.  Rollo,  if  I  ride  at  all.' 

'  I  hope  you  will  reconsider  that.' 

'Mr.  Rollo,'  she  said  in  her  gravest  manner,  'you 
and  I  seem  fated  to  see  something  of  each  other — so  it 
will  save  trouble  for  you  to  know  at  once,  that  when  I 
say  a  thing  seriously,  I  mean  it.' 

He  lifted  his  hat  with  the  old  stately  air.  But  then 
he  smiled  at  her. 

'  Allow  me  to  believe  that  you  have  said  nothing  se- 
riously this  morning  ? ' 

N  jw  if  Wych  Hazel's  mood  was  not  pliable,  his  was 
the  sort  of  look  to  make  it  so.  A  calmly  good-humour- 
ed brow,  with  a  clear  keen  eye,  and  in  both  all  that 
character  of  firm  strength  to  which  a  woman's  temper  is 


134  WYCH    HAZEL. 

apt  to  give  way.  If  it  had  been  a  question  of  temper 
in  the  ordinary  sense.  But  the  lady  of  Chickaree  had 
nothing  of  the  sort  belonging  to  her  that  was  not  as 
sweet  as  a  rose. 

'  Allow  me ! '  she  said,  just  a  litle  bit  mockingly 
'  Well — it's  not  true,  if  you  do  believe  it.  I  shall  ride 
Vixen,  or  walk.' 

'  That  would  be  very  serious,'  said  Rollo, '  for  it  is  going 
to  be  very  hot.  What  is  the  matter  with  the  grey  cob  ?1 

'  I  don't  like  him — and  I  do  like  Vixen.' 

'  Have  you  ever  ridden  him  ? ' 

'  No.  And  nothing  in  his  appearance  predicts  that  I 
ever  shall.' 

'  I  do  not  think  that  Vixen  is  fit  for  you  to  mount.  I 
am  going  to  find  out.  If  she  is  you  shall  have  her.' 

'  You  can  study  her  as  much  as  you  please,  with  me 
on  her.  Why,  what  nonsense  ! — as  if  I  didn't  ride  her 
all  yesterday  afternoon  !  ' 

"And  gave  us,  if  you  recollect,  afterwards,'  said  Rollo, 
looking  amused,  '  the  synopsis  of  her  character.' 

'  And  now  you  think  I  am  giving  you  the  synopsis  of 
mine,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Well,  Mr.  Rollo,  of  course 
your  groom  will  not  mind  me — will  you  order  the  sad- 
dles changed  ?  or  must  I  walk  ? ' 

'  I  shall  not  order  the  saddles  changed.  I  am  afraid. 
That  is  no  reason  why  you  should  be.  Fear  may  be 
commendable  in  a  man,  when  it  is  not  desirable  in  a 
woman.' 

'  But  I  cannot  be  bothered  with  anybody's  fear  but 
my  own  !  ' 

He  faced  her  with  the  same  bright,  grave  face  he  had 
worn  all  along.  '  I  owe  it  to  Mr.  Falkirk  to  carry  you 
back  safe  and  sound.' 


THE   GREY   COB.  135 

She  laughed — her  pretty  mouth  in  a  curl  of  fun. 

'  Ah,'  she  said,  '  before  you  deal  extensively  with  self- 
willed  women,  you  need  to  study  the  subject !  I  see  the 
case  is  hopeless.  If  you  had  presented  it  right  end 
first,  Mr.  Rollo,  I  cannot  tell  what  I  might  have  said,  but 
as  it  is,  I  can  only  walk.' 

She  turned  quick  about  towards  Primrose,  pulling 
hat  back  into  its  place  ;  which  hat,  being  ill  dis- 
d,  first  caught  on  her  comb,  and  then,  disengaged, 
carried  the  comb  with  it,  and  clown  came  Miss  Ha/el's 
hair  about  her  shoulders.  Not  in  '  wavy  tresses,'  or 
rippling  masses,' but  in  good,  honest,  wayward  curls,  and 
plenty  of  them,  and  all  her  own.  The  hat  had  to  come  oft 

now,  and  gloves  as  well,  for  both  hands  had  as  much  as 

9 
they  could   manage.     Rollo  took   the  gloves,  and   held 

the  hat,  and  waited  upon  her  with  grave  punctilious- 
ness, while  Primrose  looked  anxious  and  annoyed. 
When  hair  and  hat  were  in  order  again  and  lie  had  de- 
livered the  gloves,  Rollo  requested  to  be  told  by  the 
peremptory  little  owner  of  them,  '  what  was  the  matter 
with  the  right  end  of  the  subject,  now  she  had  got  it  ? ' 

'  I  have  not  got  it.  The  subject  has  only  been  gradual- 
ly turning  round  as  I  pushed,  like  a  turnstile.  Mr.  Rollo, 
I  think  it  would  do  you  a  great  deal  of  good  to  be 
thoroughly  thwarted  and  vexed  two  or  three  times — then 
you  would  learn  how  to  do  things.' 

'  But,  dear  Miss  Kennedy,'  said  Primrose's  distressed 
voice,  '  you  are  not  going  to  try  to  walk  through  this 
heat  ? ' 

Wych  Hazel  turned  and  wrapped  her  arms  about 
Primrose.  '  Yes,  I  am — but  I  don't  think  it's  hot. 
And  please  don't  call  me  "  Miss  Kennedy  " — your  father 
does  not.' 


136  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  But  it's  four  or  five  miles.' 

'  I've  walked  more  than  that,  often.  Good  bye— will 
you  let — ' 

Primrose  kissed  her  for  answer,  but  then  gave  her  a 
troubled  whisper  :  '  I  wish  you  wouldn't  walk.  Duke 
is  so  sure  to  be  right  about  the  horses.'  . 

'  Sure  to  be  right,  is  he  ? '  said  Miss  Kennedy. 
'  Well,  I  am  at  least  as  sure  to  be  wrong.  Good-bye-! 

Primrose  stood  looking,  doubtful  and  uncomfortabl 
and  afraid  to  say  any  more.  Rollo  smiled  at  her  as  he 
was  leaving  the  house,  looked  himself  the  reverse  of 
uncomfortable,  ordered  Byron  to  lead  the  hotses,  and 
set  out  by  the  side  of  Wych  Hazel.  He  was  not  just  in 
the  genial  mood  of  last  night  and  the  morning,  but  c^>ol 
and  gay,  as  it  was  his  fashion  to  be  ;  though  gravely 
and  punctiliously  attentive  to  his  charge.  Cool,  that  is 
to  say,  as  the  day  permitted  ;  for  the  sun  was  fervent, 
and  pouring  down  his  beams  with  an  overwhelming 
lavishness  of  bestowment. 

On  her  part  Wych  Hazel  went  quietly  on,  not  with 
the  undue  energy  which  shows  some  hidden  excitement 
but  with  a  steady  step  and  thoughts  most  abstractedly 
busy.  She  made  no  sort  of  remark,  unless  in  answer 
to  her  companion,  and  then  with  very  quiet  look  and 
voice.  Her  changeful  face  had  settled  into  a  depth  of 
soberness.  Perhaps  it  was  because  of  noticing  this  that 
his  manner  grew  more  gently  careful  for  her  ;  in  trifles 
shown,  to  be  sure,  but  the  touch  of  a  hand  and  the  tone 
of  a  word  will  tell  all  that  as  well  as  much  greater  things. 
Evidently  he  read  her  and  was  not  angry  with  her ;  not 
even  though  the  way  was  long  and  hot,  happily  it  was 
not  dusty — the  shower  had  laid  the  dust.  With  undim- 
rned  faces  and  unsoiled  foot-gear  they  paced  on,  rood 


THE    GREY    COB.  137 

after  rood,  and  Vixen,  drooping  her  head,  followed  at 
their  heels.  The  groom  had  been  sent  back  with  the 
cob,  and  Rollo  walked  with  the  bridle  of  Vixen  in  his 
hands.  Chickaree  was  reached  at  last. 

'  What  do  you  expect  to  find  here  ? '  said  he,  as  they 
entered  the  gate  and  were  going  up  the  ascent. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

•,  *  There  is  much  more  awaiting  you,  then,  than  you  ex- 
pect. Take  care  of  that  acacia  branch  !  See,  you  must 
send  Dingee,  or  somebody — who  is  your  factotum  ? — 
down  here  with  pruning  tools.  If  /  didn't  know  what  to 
expect,J  would  try  hard  for  a  saw  and  do  it  myself 
this  morning.  You  have  scratched  your  hand  !  ' 

t  Never  mind — yes,  I  should  have  kept  on  gloves, 
but  it  was  so  warm.  What  do  you  expect,  Mr.  Rollo, 
besides  luncheon?  You  will  stay  for  that,  won't  you?' 
she  said  shyly,  yet  with  a  pretty  enacting  of  the  hostess. 
The  touch  of  her  own  ground  made  her  feel  better. 

'  I  should  have  to  stay  for  so  many  other  things,'  he 
said,  looking  on  the  ground  as  he  walked.  She  glanced 
at  him,  not  quite  sure  whether  his  words  covered  a  neg 
ative,  and  not  choosing  to  ask. 

'  All  this  while  you  don't  know  that  there  is  company 
at  Chickaree.' 

'  Company  ? — how  do  you  know  ? 

'  I  know  by  the  signs.  You  will  find,  I  think,  Mine. 
Lasalle  up  there,  and  probably  a  few  of  her  family.' 

1  Mme.  LasaHe  ! ' 

By  what  connection  did  not  appear,  but  Miss  Hazel's 
fingers  were  immediately  very  busy  disengaging  the 
rose  branch  from  the  button  of  her  habit,  where  it  had 
hung  during  the  walk. 

'  I  think  that  is  the  prospect.      But  I   do  not  know 


138  WYCH    HAZEL. 

that  .1  am  under  any  obligation  to  meet  her,  so  I  think 
I  shall  prefer  the  company  of  your  vixenish  little  mare 
Not  to  speak  of  the  chance  of  encountering  Mr.  Falkirk,' 
said  Rollo,  lifting  his  eyebrows.  '  I  shouldn't  like  to 
stand  Mr.  Falkirk's  shot  this  morning  ! ' 

'  It  will  hit  nobody  but  me,'  she  said,  rather  soberly. 

'  Is  he  a  good  marksman  ? ' 

'  Depends  a  little  on  what  he  aims  at,'  said  the  girl.» 
'  It  is  easier,  sometimes — as,  perhaps,  you  know — to  hit 
people  than  things.' 

*  Take  care !  '  said  Rollo,  again,  as  another  obstacle 
in  the  path  presented  itself;  'I  don't  mean  anything 
shall  hit  you  while  I  have  the  care  of  you.'  Putting  his 
hands  for  an  instant  on  the  girl's  shoulders,  he  removed 
her  lightly  from  one  side  of  the  walk  to  the  other,  and 
then  attacked  a  sweeping  dogwood  branch,  which,  very 
lovely  but  very  persevering,  hung  just  too  low.  It  cost 
a  little  trouble  to  dispose  of  it. 

They  were  not  on  the  great  carriage  road,  but  follow- 
ing one  of  the  embowered  paths  which  led  through  the 
woods.  It  went  winding  up,  under  trees  of  great  beauty, 
thickset,  and  now  for  long  default  of  mastership,  over- 
bearing and  encroaching  in  their  growth.  A  wild 
beauty  they  made,  now  becoming  fast  disorderly  and 
in  places  rough.  The  road  wound  about  so  much  that 
their  progress  was  slow. 

'  Chickaree  has  had  no  guardian  for  a  good  while,' 
said  Rollo,  as  they  went  on.  '  Look  at  that  elm  !  and 
the  ashes  beyond  it.  But  don't  cut  too  much,  when  you 
cut  here  ;  nor  let  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  He  shall  not  cut  a  branch,  and  I  love  the  thickets 
too  well  to  meddle  with  them.  Unless  they  actually 
come  in  my  face.' 


THE   GREY   COB.  139 

'  Then  you  do  not  love  the  thickets  well  enough. 
Come  here,'  said  he,  drawing  hej;  gently  to  one  side, — 
'  stand  a  little  this  way — do  you  see  how  that  white  oak 
is  crowding  upon  those  two  ashes  ?  They  are  suffering 
already;  and  in  another  year  it  would  be  in  the  way  of 
that  beautiful  spruce  fir.  And  the  white  oak  itself  is 
not  worth  all  that.' 

'  But  if  you  cut  it  down  there  will  be  a  great  blank 
space.  The  crowding  is  much  prettier  than  that ! ' 

'  The  blank  space  in  two  years'  time  will  be  filled 
again.' 

'  So  soon? '  she  said  doubtfully.  Then  with  one  of 
her  half  laughs, — '  You  see  I  do  not  believe  pruning  and 
thinning  out  and  reducing  to  order  agrees  with  every- 
thing ;  and  naturally  enough  my  sympathies  are  the 
other  way.  I  like  to  see  the  stiff  leaves  and  the  soft 
leaves  all  mixed  up  together  ;  they  show  best  so.  Not 
standing  off  in  open  space — like  Mr.  Falkirk  and  me.' 

He  took  her  up  in  the  same  tone  ;  and  for  a  little 
more  of  the  way  there  was  a  delicious  bit  of  talk. 
Delicious,  because  Wych  Hazel  had  eyes  and  capacities  ; 
and  her  companion's  eyes  and  capacities  were  trained 
and  accomplished.  He  was  at  home  in  the  subject ;  he 
brought  forward  his  reading  and  his  seeing  for  her  'be- 
hoof ;  recommended  Ruskin,  and  gave  her  some  dis- 
quisitions of  his  own  that  Ruskin  need  not  have  been 
ashamed  of.  For  those  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  he  was 
a  different  man  from  what  Wych  Hazel  had  ever  seen 
him.  Then  the  house  came  in  sight,  and  a  new  subject 
claimed  their  attention.  For  the  mare,  whether  scenting 
her  stable  or  finding  her  spirits  raised  by  getting  nearer 
home,  abandoned  her  quiet  manner  of  going,  and  after 
a  little  dancing  and  pulling  her  bridle,  testified  her  dis 


140  WYCH    HAZEL. 

approbation  of  all  sorts  of  restraint  by  flinging  her  heels 
into  the  air.  and  being  obliged  to  follow  her  leader, 
she  repeated  the  amusement  continuously. 

'  Do  your  drawing-room  windows  look  on  the  front  ? 
said  Rollo. 

'  Some  of  them.     Why  ? ' 

'Then,  by  your  leave,  as  I  do  not  care  to  act  the 
Merry  Andrew  for  half  a  dozen  pair  of  eyes,  I  will  go  to 
the  rear  to  mount.'  But  instead  of  his  more  stately  saluta- 
tion, he  held  out  his  hand  to  Wych  Hazel  with  a  smile. 

'  Good  bye,'  she  said.  '  I  am  sorry  you  have  had 
such  a  hot  walk.  But  why  don't  you  mount  here  ? ' 

'  I  like  to  choose  my  audience  when  I  exhibit.' 

He  clasped  Wych  Hazel's  hand  after  the  fashion  of 
the  other  day;  then  disappeared  one  way  as  she  went 
the  other. 

Passing  swiftly  on,  holding  up  her  long  riding  skirt 
so  that  it  seemed  no  encumbrance,  musing  to  herself  on 
past  events  and  present  expectations ;  and  not  without 
a  certain  flutter  of  pleasure  and  amusement  and  timidity 
at  the  part  she  had  to  fill,  Wych  Hazel  reached  the  low, 
broad  steps  and  went  in. 

A  slender  little  person,  as  airy  and  independent  as 
the  bush  she  was  named  for  ;  one  of  those  figures  that 
never  by  any  chance  fall  into  any  attitude  or  take  any 
pose  that  is  not  lovely.  Hair — as  to  arrangement — 
decidedly  the  worse  for  the  walk ;  cheeks  a  little  warmed 
up  with  the  sun,  and  perhaps  other  things ;  grave  eyes, 
where  the  woman  was  but  beginning  to  supplant  the 
child ;  a  mouth  as  sweet  as  it  could  be,  in  all  its 
changes  ;  and  a  hand  and  foot  that  were  fabulous.  So 
the  mistress  of  Chickaree  went  in  to  receive  her  first 
instalment  of  visitors. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HOLDING    COURT. 

SHE  was  scarcely  within  the  door  when  Mr.  Falkirk 
met  her,  put  her  arm  within  his  and  led  her  into 
the  drawing-room.  For  a  few  minutes  there  the  im- 
pression was  merely  of  a  flutter  of  gauzes,  a  shifting 
scene  of  French  bonnets,  a  show  of  delicately  gloved 
hands,  and  a  general  breeze  of  compliments  and  gratu- 
lations,  in  those  soft  and  indeterminate  tones  that  stir 
nothing.  Mme.  Lasalle  it  was,  with  a  bevy  of  ladies, 
older  and  younger,  among  whom  it  was  impossible  at 
first  to  distinguish  one  from  the  other.  So  similar  was  in 
every  case  the  display  of  French  flowers,  gloves  and 
embroidery  ;  so  accordant  the  make  of  every  dress  and 
the  modulation  of  every  tone.  Mme.  Lasalle  herself 
was,  however,  prominent,  having  a  pair  of  black  eyes 
which  once  fairly  seen  were  for  ever  after  easily  recog- 
nizable. Fine  eyes,  too  ;  bright  and  merry,  which  made 
themselves  quite  at  home  in  your  face  in  half  a  minute. 
She  was  overflowing  with  graciousness.  Her  nephew, 
the  gentleman  of  the  roses,  the  only  cavalier  of  the 
party,  kept  himself  in  a  modest  background. 


142  WVCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  have  been  longing  to  see  you  at  home,  my  dear, 
said  Mme.  Lasalle.  '  All  in  good  time  ;  but  I  always 
am  impatient  for  what  I  want.  And  then  we  have  all 
wanted  you ;  the  places  of  social  comfort  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood are  so  few  that  we  cannot  afford  to  have 
Chickaree  shut  up.  This  beautiful  old  house  !  I  am 
so  delighted  to  be  in  it  again.  But  I  hope  you  have 
met  with  no  accident  this  morning  ?  You  have  not  ? ' 

'Accident? — O  no  !' 

'  You  have  surely  not  been  thrown,'  said  another  lady. 

'  No,  ma'am.'  The  demure  face  was  getting  all  alight 
with  secret  fun. 

'But  how  was  it  ?' pursued  Mme.  Lasalle,  with  an 
air  of  interest.  '  We  saw  you  walk  up  t5  the  door — what 
had  become  of  your  horse  ? ' 

'  He  walked  to  another  door.' 

'  And  you  have  really  been  taking  foot  exercise  this 
morning,'  said  the  lady,  in  whose  eyes  and  the  lines  of 
her  face  might  be  seeft  a  slight  shadow.  Miss  Kennedy 
then  had  been  on  foot  of  choice,  and  so  accompanied! 
And  Wych  Hazel  was  too  inexperienced  to  notice — 
but  her  guardian  was  not — that  Mr.  Nightingale,  to 
whom  he  had  been  talking,  paused  in  his  attention  and 
turned  to  catch  the  answer. 

'  I  have  been  finding  out  that  my  woods  need  atten- 
tion,' said  Miss  Kennedy,  who  never  chose  to  be  cate- 
chised if  she  could  help  it.  '  It  is  astonishing  that  they 
can  have  grown  so  much  in  these  years  when  I  have 
grown  so  little  ! ' 

'  You  have  got  to  make  acquaintance  with  a  great 
many  other  things  here  besides  your  trees.  Do  you 
know  any  of  your  neighbours  ?  or  is  it  all  unbroken 
ground  ? ' 


HOLDING    COURT.  143. 

'  I  do  not  even  know  how  much  there  is  to  break.' 

'  How  delicious  ! '  remarked  a  languid  lady.  '  Think 
of  coming  into  a  region  where  all  is  new !  Things  get 
so  tiresome  when  you  know  them  too  well.' 

'  People  and  all ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  Well,  yes — don't  you  think  they  do  ?  When  there 
is  nothing  more  to  be  found  out  about  them.' 

'  I  don't  agree  with  you,'  said  another  lady.  '  I  think 
it's  so  tiresome  to  find  them  out.  When  you  once  know 
them,  then  you  give  up  being  disappointed.' 

'  My  dear  Clara  !  '  said  Mine.  Lasalle,  '  what  a  mis- 
anthropical sentiment !  Miss  Kennedy,  I  know  by  her 
face,  will  never  -agree  with  you.  Were  you  ever  disap- 
pointed, my  dear,  in  your  life  ?  There  !  I  know  you 
were  not.' 

'Not  often,  I  think.'  What  were  they  talking  about, 
— these  people  who  looked  so  gay  and  spoke  so  languid- 
ly? Miss  Kennedy  rang  for  refreshments,  hoping  to  re- 
vive them  a  little. 

'But,  my  dear,  how  far  have  you  walked  in  this  hot 
sun?  You  see,  you  quite  dismay  us  country  people. 
Do  tell  us  !  How  far  have  you  walked  ? ' 

'  The  miles  are  as  unknown  to  me  as  the  inhabitants,' 
she  said  gayly.  '  But  we  brown  people  are  never  afraid 
of  the  sun.' 

'  Miles  ! '  said  Mme.  Lasalle  looking  round  her.  '  Im- 
agine it ! '  Then  as  the  lady  took  a  piece  of  cake,  she 
remarked  casually : 

'  I  think  I  saw  an  old  acquintance  of  mine  with  you 
— Dane  Rollo,  was  it  not  ? ' 

'  Mr.  Rollo  ?     Yes.' 

'  He  has  not  been  to  see  me  since  he  came  home — I 
shall  quarrel  with  him.  I  wonder  if  he  has  been  to 


144 


WYCH    HAZEL. 


Mrs.  Powder's.  Mr.  Falkirk,  don't  you  think  Dane  had 
a  great  penchant  for  one  of  Mrs.  Powder's  beautiful 
daughters  before  he  went  abroad  ? ' 

'  I  am  not  in  the  confidence  of  either  party,  madam/ 
replied  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  If  he  had  he  would  have  taken  her  with  him,'  said 
another  of  the  party. 

'  O  that  don't  follow,  you  know.  Maybe  her  mother 
thought  she  was  too  young — or  /te,  perhaps.  She  is  a 
beautiful  girl.' 

'Not  my  style  of  beauty,'  said  the  languid  lady  with 
an  air  of  repulsion. 

'  What  has  he  been  doing  in  Europe  all  this  time  ? ' 
pursued  Mme.  Lasalle.  '  Been  to  Norway,  hasn't  he  ? ' 

'  I  believe  he  went  there.' 

'  He  has  relations  there,  Dr.  Maryland  told  me.' 

'  Dr.  Maryland  knows,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  Perhaps  he  will  settle  in  Norway.' 

'  Perhaps  he  will.' 

'  But  how  dreadful  for  his  wife  !  Mrs.  Powder  would 
not  like  that.  He's  a  great  favourite  of  mine,  Dane  is ; 
but  I  am  afraid  he  has  rather  a  reputation  for  breaking 
ladies'  hearts.  What  do  you  think,  Mr.  Falkirk  ?  He 
is  welcome  everywhere.  Maybe  it's  Norwegian  fashion  ; 
but  I  think  Dr.  Maryland  is  very  imprudent  to  let  him 
come  into  his  house  again — if  he  does.  Do  you  know 
the  Marylands,  my  dear  ? '  turning  to  Wych  Hazel 
again. 

'  They  knew  me,  long  ago,'  she  said.  '  I  have  been 
here  but  two  days  now.' 

'The  daughter — this  daughter — is  a  singular  girl,  is 
she  not  ? ' 

'  I  do  not  know — I  like  her,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 


HOLDING    COURT.  145 

'  Oh  she's  very  queer,'  said  another  young  lady. 

'  I  have  no  doubt-she  is  good,'  Mine.  Lasalle  went  on  ; 
no  doubt  at  all.  But  I  have  heard  she  lives  in  a 
strange  way — among  children  and  poor  people — going 
about  preaching  and  making  clothes.  A  little  of  that 
is  all  very  well  ;  I  suppose  we  might  all  do  more  of  it,  and 
not  hurt  ourselves  ;  but  is  not  Miss  Maryland  quite  an 
enthusiast  ? ' 

Wych  Hazel  was  getting  very  much  amused. 

'  She  was  not  enthusiastic  over  me,'  she  said,  '  and 
I  have  not  seen  her  tried  with  anything  else.  Where 
does  she  preach  ? ' 

'  You  will  find  her  out.  Wait  till  you  know  her  a 
little  better.  She  will  preach  to  you,  I  have  no  doubt. 
Prudentia,  Mrs.  Coles,  is  very  different.  She  is  really 
a  charming  woman.  But  my  dear  Miss  Kennedy,  we 
have  been  here  a  length  of  time  thai  it  will  not  do  to 
talk  about.  We  have  had  no  mercv  upon  Mr.  Falkirk, 
for  we  were  determined  to  see  you.  Now  you  must  come 
and  spend  the  day  with  me  to-morrow,  and  I'll  tell  you 
everything.  We  are  going  on  a  fishing  expedition  up 
the  Arrow;  and  we  want  you.  And  you  must  come 
early  ;  for  we  must  take  the  cool  of  the  morning  to  go 
and  the  cool  of  the  afternoon  to  come  back.  I'll  see  you 
home  safe.  Come  !  say  yes.' 

'  I  will  if  Mr.  Falkirk  does,  ma'am,  very  gladly.' 

'  Let  her  go  !  '  whispered  another  member  of  the  party, 
who  had  been  using  her  eyes  more  than  her  tongue. 
'Give  her  a  bose  rein  now,  Mr.  Falkirk,  and  hold  her 
in  when  Kitty  Fisher  comes.' 

'  Pshaw  !  she  isn't  under  guardianship  at  that  rate,'  said 
Mine.  Lasalle.  '  Mr.  Falkirk,  isn't  this  lady  free  yet  ? ' 

1  I  am  afraid  she  never  will  be,  madam.' 


146  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  But  does  she  have  lo 
ask  your  leave  for  everything  she  does  ? ' 

'  No  one  acquainted  with  the  wisdom  of  Miss  Kenne- 
dy's g-eneral  proceedings  would  do  me  so  much  honour 
as  to  think  the  wisdom  all  came  from  me  ! '  said  Mr. 
Falkirk  dryly. 

'  Well,  you'll  let  her  come  to  Moscheloo  ? ' 

'  Certainly/ 

The  lady  looked  at  Wych  Hazel.  The  laughing  eyes 
had  grown  suddenly  quiet.  It  was  with  a  very  dignified 
bend  of  the  head  that  she  repeated  Mr.  Falkirk's  assent. 

'  I  shall  notaskjw/,'  said  the  lady  to  Miss  Kennedy's 
guardian  ;  'it  is  a  young  party  entirely,  and  must  not 
have  too  much  wisdom,  you  understand.  I'll  bring  her 
home.' 

'I  am  no  sportsman,  madam,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  with  a 
smile  ;  '  and  my  wisdom  will  probably  be  busy  to-mor- 
row in  Miss  Kennedy's  plantations.' 

With  that,  the  train  of  ladies  swept  away,  with  renew- 
ed soft  words  of  pleasure  and  hope  and  congratulation. 
They  rustled  softly  through  the  hall,  gently  spoke  ec- 
stasies at  the  hall  door,  mounted  upon  their  horses  and 
got  into  their  carriages,  and  departed.  Mr.  Falkirk 
came  back  to  his  ward  in  the  hall. 

'  Now  that  to-morrow  is  provided  for,'  he  said,  '  I 
should  be  glad  to  hear,  Miss  Hazel,  the  history  of  yes- 
terday. It  is  quite  impossible  to  know  a  story  from 
Dingee's  telling  of  it.  And  do  you  think  you  could  give 
me  some  luncheon  ? ' 

'  Certainly,  sir.'  She  was  just  disposing  of  hat  and 
whip  upon  a  particular  pair  of  chamois  horns  on  the 
wall.  They  hung  a  little  high  for  her,  and  she  was 
springing  to  rea<:h  them  like  any  airiest  creature  that 


HOLDING    COURT.  147 

ever  made  a  spring.  '  Perhaps  you  will  be  so  kind  as 
to  be  seated,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? — in  the  dining  room — for  a 
moment.  Dingee  ! ' — her  voice  rang  softly  out  clear  as 
an  oriole.  '  Luncheon  at  once — do  you  hear,  Dingee  ? 
Don't  keep  Mr.  Falkirk  waiting.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  stood  still  looking  at  all  this,  and  waiting 
tfith  an  unmoved  face. 

1  Will  you  excuse  my  habit,  sir  ?  as  you  are  in  haste. 
And  am  I  to  give  you  the  "  history  "  here,  all  standing  ? ' 

'  Go !  but  come,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  We  have  met 
only  one  division  of  the  enemy  yet,  my  dear.' 

She  glanced  at  him,  and  went  off,  and  was  back  ;  all 
fresh  and  dainty  and  fragrant  with  the  sweet  briar  at 
her  belt.  Then  silently  made  herself  busy  with  the 
luncheon  ;  creamed  Mr.  Falkirk's  chocolate  ;  then  sud- 
denly exclaimed : 

'  Could  you  make  nothing  of  my  version,  sir  ? ' 

'  Not  much.     Where  were  you  going  ? ' 

'  I  was  coming  home.' 

4  From  Dr.  Maryland's  ?  ' 

'  Not  at  all,  sir.  I  should  have  said,  I  was  on  my 
way  home, — and  the  storm  began,  and  I  took  a  cross 
road  to  expedite  matters — and  then  I  grew  desperate, 
and  ran  into  an  unknown,  open  door,  and  so  found  my- 
self at  Dr.  Maryland's.' 

'  Very  intelligible.  My  question  looked  to  the  begin- 
ning of  your  expedition.' 

'Well,  sir — I  would  rather — but  it  does  not  signify. 
There  came  a  small  Bohemian  here  in  the  morning  to 
get  help  for  her  sick  mother  ;  and  I  went.  That  is  all.' 

'Who  is  the  mother,  Miss  Hazel?  Where  does  she 
live?'  - 

'  i  don't  know  her  name.     And   her  habitation  only 


148  WVCH    HAZEL. 

when  I  see  it.  All  places  are  alike  to  me  here  yet,  you 
know.' 

'  My  dear/  said  Mr.  Falkirk  gravely,  '  you  must  see 
tha'  beingso  ignorant  of  people  and  things  in  this  region, 
yor  had  better  not  make  sudden  expeditions  without 
taking  me  into  your  confidence.  Dingee  said  you  rode 
the  little  black  mare  ? ' 

'True,  sir.' 

'  You  did  not  like  her  well  enough  to  ride  her  home  ?' 

'  Quite  well  enough,  sir.' 

'You  did  not  do  it? ' 

'  No,'  said  Wych  Hazel — '  that  Norwegian  pirate  took 
her  for  his  own  use,  and  I  walked.' 

'  Wouldn't  let  you  ride  her,  eh  ? '  and  a  curious  gleam 
came  into  Mr.  Falkirk's  eyes. 

' "  Wanted  to  try  her  first" — and  was  "  bound  to  be 
afraid,  though  I  was  not" — and  "  couldn't  answer  it  to 
you" — and  so  forth  and  so  forth.  A  man  can  generally 
find  words  enough.' 

'  Depend  upon  it,  my  dear,  he  generally  borrows 
them  of  a  woman.'  Mr.  Falkirk's  face  relaxed  slightly, 
and  he  took  a  turn  across  the  room ;  then  stood  still. 
'  WThy  didn't  you  ride  the  cob  home  ? — he  is  there  still, 
isn't  he  ? ' 

'  I  did  not  choose,  sir.  I  should,  if  I  had  been  asked 
properly.' 

'  Were  you  not  asked  ? ' 

'  No,  except  by  having  my  saddle  put  on  that  horse 
and  then  "not  taking  it  off.' 

'  You  made  the  demand  ? ' 

'  Of  course.     That  is,  I  told  the  groom  to  do  it.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  smiled  and  then  laughed,  or  came  as  near 
to  laughing  as  he  often  did. 


HOLDING   COURT.  149 

1  So  you  wouldn't  ask  him  into  the  house  ?  But  did 
you  see  anybody  else  in  your  yesterday's  expedition,  my 
dear  ?' 

She  glanced  up  at  him,  evidently  growing  restive  un- 
der this  cross-questioning. 

'  I  saw  Mr.  Nightingale.' 

'  Nightingale! '  echoed  Mr.  Falkirk,  'Where  did  you 
see  Mr.  Nightingale,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'  In  the  woods.' 

'  And  what  the .  My  dear,  what  were  you  doing 

in  the  woods  ? ' 

'Won't  you  finish  your  first  sentence  first,  sir?  I 
like  to  take  things  in  order.' 

Mr.  Falkirk 's  brows  drew  together ;  he  looked  down 
and  (hen  he  looked  up,  awaiting  his  answer. 

'I  was  doing  nothing  in  the  woods,  sir,  but  finding  my 
way  home.' 

'  How  came  lie  to  be  there  ?     Did  he  speak  to  you  ? ' 

'  Yes,  sir,  he  spoke  to  me.' 

'  What  did  he  say?'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  looking  very 
gravely  intent. 

'  Before  we  go  any  further,  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  the  girl, 
steadily,  though  she  coloured  a  good  deal,  'is  it  to  be 
your  pleasure  in  future  to  know  every  word  that  may  be 
said  to  me?  Because  in  that  case,  it  will  be  needful  to 
engage  a  reporter.  You  must  see,  sir,  that  I  should 
never  be  equal  to  it.' 

'  My  dear,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  slowly, '  we  are  embarked 
on  a  search  after  fortune  ; — which  always  embraced  on 
my  part  an  earnest  purpose  to  avoid  misfortune.' 

'  You  sit  there,'  she  went  on,  scarce  heeding  him, '  and 
ask  me  "where  I  was  "  and  "where  I  was  going"  and 
•'  what  I  said  " — as  if  I  would  forget  myself  among  strange 


[50  WYCH    HAZEL. 

people  in  this  strange  place  !— And  then  you  take  for 
granted  that  I  would  be  rude  to  one  person  whom  I  do 
know,  just  because  he  had  vexed  me  !  I  did  ask  him  in, 
and  he  wouldn't  come.  I  am  unpractised — wild,  maybe 
— but  am  I  so  unwomanly,  Mr.  Falkirk  ?  Do  you  think 
I  am  ? '  It  was  almost  pitiful,  the  way  the  young  eyes 
scanned  his  face.  If  Mr.  Falkirk  had  not  been  a  guar- 
dian !  But  he  was  steel. 

Yet  even  steel  will  give  forth  flashes,  and  one  of  those 
flashes  came  from  under  Mr.  Falkirk's  brows  now.  His 
answer  was  very  quiet. 

'  My  dear,  I  think  you  no  more  unwomanly  than  I  think 
a  rose  unlovely — but  the  rose  has  thorns  which  some- 
times prick  the  hands  that  would  train  it  out  of  harm's 
way.  And  it  might  occur  even  to  your  inexperience 
that  when  a  gentleman  who  does  not  know  you  pre- 
sumes to  address  you,  he  can  have  nothing  to  say  which 
it  would  not  be  on  several  accounts  proper  for  me  to  hear.' 

Again  the  colour  bloomed  up. 

'  You  would  know,  if  you  were  a  woman,  Mr.  Falkirk, 
how  it  feels  to  have  a  man  sit  and  question  you  with 
such  an  air.  Ah,'  she  said,  dashing  off  the  tears  which 
had  gathered  in  her  eyes,  '  if  you  really  think  I  can  take 
no  better  care  of  myself  than  that,  you  should  not  have 
said  I  might  go  with  those  people  to-morrow  ! — A  rose's 
thorns  are  lot  protection,  sir ! ' — And  away  she  went,  out 
of  the  room  and  up  the  stairs  ;  and  Mr.  Falkirk  heard  nc 
more  till  Dingee  entered  with  fruit  and  biscuits. 

'  Missee  Hazel  hope  you'll  enjoy  yours,  sar, — she  take 
her's  upstairs.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  put  on  his  hat  and  walked  down  to  his 
house. 

It  was  a  slight  fiction  on  the  part  of  Dingee,  to  say 


HOLDING   COURT.  151 

that  Miss  Hazel  was  taking  her  fruit  upstairs  ;  indeed 
the  whole  message  was  freely  translated  from  her. 

'  Dingee,  attend  to  Mr.  P"alkirk's  lunch,  I  don't  want 
any.' 

Presently  now  came  Dingee  to  her  with  another  mes- 
sage. 

'  Massa  Morton — he  'most  dyin'  to  see  Miss  Hazel 
— but  he  wait  till  she  clone  had  her  lunch.' 

And  she  flashed  down  upon  Mr.  Morton's  eyes, 
like  a  prism-caught-sunbeam.  By  this  time  there  were 
two  pairs  of  eyes  to  be  dazzled.  Mr.  Dell  had  made  his 
appearance  on  the  stage. 

Mr.  Dell  was  a  clergyman,  of  a  different  denomina- 
tion, who  like  Mr.  Maryland  had  a  church  to  take  care 
of  at  Crocus.  Mr.  Dell's  was  a  little  church  at  the 
opposite  corner  of  the  village  and  society.  He  himself 
was  a  good-hearted,  plain  man,  with  no  savour  of 
elegance  about  him,  though  with  more  than  the  usual 
modicum  of  sense  and  shrewdness.  Appearance  con- 
formable to  character.  Mr.  Morton  was  not  very  far 
from  Mr.  Falkirk's  range  of  years,  though  making  more 
attempts  to  conceal  the  fact.  Rich,  well  educated,  well 
mannered,  a  little  heavy,  he  had  married  very  young  ; 
and  now  a  widower  of  twenty  years  standing,  the  sight 
of  Wych  Hazel  had  suggested  to  him  what  a  nice  thing 
it  would  be  to  be  married  again.  The  estates  too  suit- 
ed each  other,  even  touched  at  one  point.  With  this 
gentleman  Wych  Hazel  had  some  slight  acquaintance,  and 
he  introduced  Mr.  Dell;  thinking  privately  to  himself  how 
absurd  it  was  for  such  men  to  come  visiting  such  women. 

'I  see  with  pleasure  that  you  have  quite  recovered 
from  the  fatigues  of  your  journey,  Miss  Kennedy.  A 
day's  rest  will  often  do  wonders.' 


152  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Yes,  sir.  Especially  if  you  spend  a  good  piece  of  it 
on  horseback,  as  I  did.' 

'  On  horseback  ! '  said  Mr.  Morton,  looking  doubtful — • 
(he  hoped  she  was  not  going  to  turn  out  one  of  those 
riding  damsels,  who  went  rough  shod  over  all  his  ideas 
of  propriety.)  '  Did  you  go  out  so  soon  to  explore  the 
country  ? ' 

'  No,  sir.     I  went  out  on  business.' 

'  Ah  ! ' — (how  admirable  in  so  young  a  person.) 

'  There  is  business  enough  in  city  or  country,'  said 
straightforward  Mr.  Dell — '  if  you  are  disposed  to  take 
hold  of  it.  Even  our  little  Crocus  will  give  you  plenty.' 

'  All  the  year  round,  sir  ? — or  does  Crocus  go  to  sleep 
in  the  winter  like  most  other  bulbs  ?' 

'  It  is  another  species  from  any  that  you  are  acquaint- 
ed with,  I  am  afraid,'  said  the  clergyman,  looking  at  her 
with  mingled  curiosity  and  admiration.  '  Bulbs  when 
they  go  to  sleep  require  no  attention,  I  believe  ;  but  our 
Crocus  wants  most  of  all  in  the  cold  season.  We  want 
lady  gardeners  too,'  said  Mr.  Dell,  following  the  figure. 

'It  is  a  most  healthful  exercise,'  said  Mr.  Morton, 
'and  the  slight  disadvantages  of  dress,  etc.,  rather  form 
a  pleasant  foil,  I  think,  to  the  perfection  of  attire  at  other 
times.  Are  you  fond  of  gardening,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'Very  fond!'  said  Miss  Kennedy,  demurely.  'But 
that  is  one  of  the  times  when  I  like  to  be  particularly 
perfect  in  my  attire,  Mr.  Morton.  Why,  Mr.  Dell,  the 
bulbs  must  be  kept  from  freezing,  you  know,  if  they  are 
asleep.  Isn't  Miss  Maryland  one  of  your  successful 
gardeners  ? ' 

'  Miss  Maryland  does  all  she  can,  madam,'  said  Mr. 
Dell,  earnestly.  '  She  has  been  the  good  angel  of  the 
village  for  five  years  past.' 


HOLDING   COURT.  153 

'  That  is  just  what  she  looks  like,'  said  Wych,  with  a 
glow  of  pleasure.  '  And  I'm  going  to  help  her  all  I  can.' 

'  But  do  you  not  think,'  said  Mr.  Morton,  with  the 
dubious  look  again — '  you  are  talking,  I  imagine,  of  Miss 
Maryland's  visits  among  the  lower  classes, — do  not  you 
think  they  make  a  young  lady  too  prominent — too 
public — Mi.  Dell?  They  bring  her  among  very  rough 
people,  Miss  Kennedy,  I  assure  you.' 

'  But,  sir,  one  would  not  lose  the  chance  of  being  a 
good  angel  for  th?  fear  of  being  prominent.' 

'Or  for  the  fear  of  anything  else,'  said  Mr.  Dell. 

'Truly  not,'  said  Mr.  Morton.  'But  we  gentlemen 
think,  Miss  Kennedy,  that  ladies  of  a  certain  stamp  can 
scarcely  fail  of  so  desirable  a  position.' 

'Ah,  but  I  want  a  pair  of  bona  fide  wings!'  said 
Wych  Hazel,  and  she  looked  so  comically  innocent  and 
witch-like  that  Mr.  Morton  forgot  all  else  in  admiration  ; 
and  Mr.  Del!  looked  at  her  with  all  his  eyes  as  he  re- 
marked,— 

'  Not  to  fly  away  from  the  poor  and  needy — as  many 
of  Mr.  Morton's  angels  do.' 

'  Do  they  ? '  said  Wych  Ha/el, — '  where  do  they  fly  to  ? 
Mr.  Morton,  what  becomes  of  your  angels  ? ' 

'  My  angels,'  said  Mr.  Morton  with  some  emphasis 
on  the  pronoun,  'would  never  be  in  the  majority.  When 
I  said  "  ladies  of  a  certain  stamp,"  I  by  no  means  in- 
tended to  say  that  the  class  was  a  large  one.' 

'  No,  sir,  of  course  not.  If  the  class  were  large,  I 
should  suppose  the  stamp  would  become  very  uncertain. 
Mr.  Dell,  what  does  Crocus  want  most,  just  now  ? ' 

'  I  should  say — angels,'  said  Mr.  Dell.  He  spoke 
with  a  smile,  but  with  a  shrewd  and  sensible  eye  withal. 
He  was  not  a  beauty,  but  he  had  mettle  in  him. 


154  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  That's  a  bad  want  in  the  present  state  of  the  case, 
as  set  forth  by  Mr.  Morton.  Are  gold  angels  good 
for  anything  as  a  substitute  ? ' 

'  Good  for  very  little.  When  I  said  angels,  I  spoke  of 
what  the  world  most  wants,  as  well  as  Crocus  ;  angels  in 
human  form,  I  mean,  or  rather,  in  their  human  state  of 
initiation.  There  is  no  substitute.  Gold  will  do  some- 
thing ;  but  nothing  of  what  a  good  man  or  a  good 
woman  will  do — anywhere.' 

'Miss  Kennedy,'  said  Mr.  Morton,  rising,  'I  regret 
much  that  a  business  appointment  calls  me  away.  But 
if  you  will  indulge  me,  I  will  call  again  the  day  after  to- 
morrow, in  the  afternoon,  and  perhaps  I  may  hope  foi 
your  company  on  a  drive.  You  must  make  acquaintance 
with  this  fine  region.' 

'  Thank  you' — Wych  Hazel  hesitated,  looking  for 
some  retreat,  finally  took  shelter  behind  her  guardian. 
'  Thank  you,  sir,  I  will  ask  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  Miss  Kennedy,'  said  Mr.  Morton,  extending  his 
hand,  '  you  must  allow  me  to  express  my  admiration  !  I 
wish  other  young  ladies  were  so  thoughtful  and  prudent. 
But  if  they  were,  it  would  not  make  your  conduct  less 
remarkable.'  And  Mr.  Morton  departed,  while  Wych 
Hazel,  turning  a  sharp  pirouette  on  one  toe,  dropped 
into  her  chair  like  a  thistle  down.  But  all  that  appear- 
ed to  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Dell  was  a  somewhat  extensive 
flutter  of  muslin.  He  had  no  time  to  remark  upon  it 
nor  upon  anything  else,  as  there  immediately  succeeded 
a  flutter  of  muslin  in  another  direction,  just  entering  in 
by  the  door  ;  which  secondary  flutter  was  furnished  by 
the  furbelows  of  Mrs.  Fellows,  the  lawyer's  wife,  and 
the  scarf  of  Mrs.  Dell,  the  mother  of  the  clergyman 
himself.  There  was  no  more  question  about  angels. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

TO    MOSCHELOO. 

THE  next  morning  Mr.  Falkirk  appeared  in  the 
breakfast-room,  as  was  his  very  frequent,  though 
not  invariable  wont. 

'I  want  your  orders,  Miss  Hazel,  about  horses.' 

Hazel — deep  in  a  great  wicker  tray  of  flowers — looked 
up  to  consider  the  question. 

'  Well,  sir, — we  want  carriage  horses  of  course, — and 
saddle  horses.  And  I  want  a  pony  carriage.' 

'  I  don't  think  you  need  two  carriages  at  present. 
The  pony  carriage  would  have  to  have  a  pony.' 

'Yes,  sir.  Pony  carriages,  I  believe,  generally  do. 
I  am  not  well  enough  known  in  the  neighbourhood  yet 
to  expect  other  means  of  setting  my  wheels  in  motion. 
But  if  I  have  nothing  but  that,  Mr.  Falkirk,  then  you, 
and  I  can  never  go  together.' 

'  And  if  you  do  not  have  that,  then  you  could  not  go 
alone.' 

'  Precisely,  sir.  Mr.  Falkirk,  don't  you  want  a  rose 
— what  shall  I  say  ! — to — do  something  to  your  medita- 
tions \ '  And  before  Mr.  Falkirk  had  time  to  breathe, 


156  WYCH    HAZEL. 

she  was  down  on  her  knees  at  his  side,  and  fastening 
an  exquisite  "  Duchess  of  Thuringia  "  in  his  buttonhole. 

'  Yes,  I  look  like  it,'  said  he  grimly,  but  suffering  her 
fingers  to  do  their  will  nevertheless.  '  Miss  Hazel,  if 
the  princess  goes  about  in  a  pony  carriage,  I  shall  be  in 
daily  expectation  of  its  turning  into  a  pumpkin,  and 
leaving  her  on  the  ground  somewhere.' 

'  No,  sir.  Not  the  least  fear  of  your  turning  into  an 
amiable  godmother, — and  you  know  that  was  essen- 
tial.' 

'  Ponies  are  ugly  things,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  ruefully. 
'  However,  I'll  ask  Rollo  ;  and  if  he  can  find  one,  that 
suits  him ' 

'  Then  do  let  him  keep  it ! '  interposed  Miss  Hazel, 
facing  round.  '  What  possible  concern  of  Mr.  Rollo's 
are  my  horses  ? ' 

'  Simply  that  I  am  going  to  ask  him  to  choose  them. 
He  knows  more  about  such  things  than  any  one  else, 
and  I  dare  say  he  will  give  me  his  help.  I  wanted  to 
know  your  fancy,  though  very  likely  it  can't  be  met, 
about  the  other  horses  ;  colour  and  so  forth.' 

*  Not  white — and  not  black,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  And 
not  sorrel — nor  cream.' 

'  That  is  lucid.  You  said  saddle  horses — Ah  !  what's 
this  ? ' 

It  was  a  little  combination  of  brisk  sounds  in  the  hall, 
foljowed  by  the  entrance  of  Rollo  himself  in  a  gray 
fisherman's  dress.  Unless  he  was  very  hard  to  suit  he 
might  have  enjoyed  the  picture  now  opened  before  him 
The  pretty  room,  with  its  garden  outlook  ;  the  breakfast 
table,  bright  and  quaint  together,  with  its  old-time 
furnishings  ;  and  flowers  everywhere,  arranged  and  un- 
arranged.  As  he  came  in,  Wych  Hazel  had  just  (quite 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  157 

surreptitiously)  hung  a  garland  of  pansies  on  the  high 
carved  peak  of  Mr.  Falkirk's  chair,  and  then  dropped 
into  her  own  place  ;  with  a  De  Rohan  rose  in  the  belt 
of  her  gray  dress.  Not  in  the  least  like  Rollo's  gray, 
but  white  with  the  edge  taken  off,  like  a  pale  cloud. 

'  So  ! '  she  said,  looking  up  at  him  as  he  stood  beside 
her, — '  have  you  come  to  confess  ? ' 

'  Not  this  time.  I  have  come  to  ask  if  I  may  catch 
some  of  your  trout — if  I  can.' 

'  Not  this  time  !  If  you  wait  for  another  the  score 
will  be  heavier.' 

1  May  I  have  your  trout  ? ' 

'  Really,  if  they  give  their  consent  I  will.  Good 
morning,  Mr.  Rollo  ! — will  you  sit  down  and  let  me 
give  you  some  coffee  ? ' 

'  As  I  came  for  that  too,  I  will,  thank  you.  Will  you 
lend  me  Vixen  to-day  ? ' 

4  Why  yes — as  I  am  going  fishing  myself,  and  so  can- 
not use  her,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  giving  critical  attention 
to  cream  and  sugar.  '  But  it  is  very  good  of  me — after 
the  way  you  have  behaved.' 

'  It  is  very  good  of  you.  Is  that  thing  all  you  have 
got  to  ride,  except  the  respectable  cob  ? ' 

'  Half  broken,  isn't  she  ? '  asked  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  Half — hardly.     She  shies  wickedly.' 

'I  am  glad  Hazel  hears  you.  I  hope  she  will  not 
mount  her  again  after  that.' 

Rollo's  eyes  came  over  to  Wych  Hazel's  with  an  ex- 
pression she  could  not  quite  read.  It  was  not  petitioning  ; 
it  might  be  a  little  inquisitive.  But  she  chose  rather  to 
answer  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  I  needed  no  help  to  find  out  that  she  shied,  sir. 
Then  I  have  a  little  sympathy  with  that  particular 


158  WYCH     HAZEL. 

species  of  what  Mr.  Rollo  is  pleased  to  call  "  wicked 
ness."  ' 

'It  is  very  unfair,  of  course,'  said  Rollo,  'to  speak  oi 
an  action  from  its  results — but  we  all  do  it.  Now  a 
horse's  shying  may  break  your  neck.  It  is  true  a  lady's 
shying  may  break  your  heart ;  but  that  don't  count.' 

'  We  were  just  talking  about  horses,  Rollo.  I  want 
your  help.' 

'I  will  give  it  with  promptness — if  Miss  Kennedy 
command  me.' 

'  Mr.  Rollo's  innocent  way  of  talking  about  commands 
would  deceive  anybody  but  me,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  But 
I  am  learning  to  know  him  by  slow  and  painful  degrees.' 

The  only  answer  to  this  was  a  mischievous  smile, 
which  did  not  embolden  further  charges.  But  whether 
boldly  or  not,  Hazel  went  on  with  a  fair  show  at  least  of 
bravery. 

'What  was  that  I  was  told  so  impressively  yesterday  ? ' 
she  said.  "'There  are  circumstances  where  fear  is 
highly  commendable  in  a  woman,  when  it  is  yet  not 
desirable  in  a  man."  And  after  all  that,  did  you  not 
speed  away  like  a  very  poltroon,  and  leave  me  to  face 
everything  by  myself?  Confess,  Mr.  Rollo!'  The 
demure  eyes  were  brimming  with  fun. 

'  How  much  did  you  have  to  face  ? '  asked  the  gentle- 
man taking  another  roll. 

'Ten  people  and  two  catechisms.  And  if  Madame 
Lasalle  says  true — Have  you  a  sketching  club  here  ? 
and  is  she  its  president  ? ' 

'  We  have  no  such  club — and  it  has  no  such  president 
— and  whether  Madame  Lasalle  says  true  is  a  matter 
entirely  unknown  to  me.  Do  you  say  you  are  going 
fishing  to-day,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  159 

« 

1  Mr.  Falkirk  told  Madame  Lasalle  I  might.  And 
she  is  to  "  tell  me  everything," — fill  up  her  sketches,  I 
suppose  ;  so  the  sport  may  be  extensive.  Yesterday 
her  pencil  marks  were  delightfully  indistinct,  and  made 
the  most  charming  confusion  between  cats  and  dogs 
and  canary  birds.  Miss  Maryland  was  a  preacher,  her 
father  the  personification  of  imprudence,  and  you — ' 

She  had  run  on  in  a  sort  of  gleeful  play,  not  at  all 
guessing  what  the  pencil  marks  really  meant,  and  stop- 
ped short  now  only  for  fear  her  play  might  chafe. 

'What  was  I?'  said  Rollo,  with  a  quietness  that  was 
evidently  careless. 

'You,'  said  Wych  Hazel  impressively,  '  were  (in  a 
general  way)  a  Norwegian,  a  Dane, — making  your  way 
everywhere  and  laying  waste  the  country.' 

Something  in  Mr.  Falkirk's  face  as  she  finished  these 
words  made  her  instinct  take  alarm.  The  colour 
mounted  suddenly. 

'  O,  please  do  not  speak  to  me  again — anybody  ! '  she 
said,  looking  clown.  '  I  was  all  alone  yesterday  after- 
noon, and  had  to  descend  into  the  depths  of  Morton 
Hollow — and  I  believe  I  am  a  little  wild  at  getting 
back.  •  And  Mr.  Morton,  sir — O,  you  have  not  asked 
what  he  said  to  me  ! '  She  checked  herself  again,  too 
late  !  Whatever  should  she  do  with  her  tongue  to  keep 
it  still.  The  Camille  de  Rohan  at  her  belt  was  hardly 
deeper  dyed  than  she. 

'  What  about  Mr.  Morton  ? '  said  Rollo.  '  Forgive 
somebody  for  speaking — but  it  was  impossible  to  ask 
without !  ' 

'  O — nothing — only  a  compliment  for  Mr.  Falkirk,' 
said  the  girl,  trying  to  rally.  '  And  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
said — And  I  have  lived  so  long  alone  with  Mr.  Falkirk, 


l6o  WYCH    HAZEL. 

» 

that  I  have  got  into  a  very  bad  habit  of  forgetting  that 
anybody  else  can  be  present ! ' 

It  did  not  exactly  help  on  the  progress  of  self-control, 
that  at  this  point  Dingee  came  in,  bearing  in  both  hands 
a  lovely  basket  of  hot-house  grapes  and  nectarines, 
themselves  specimens  of  perfection,  with  a  long  wreath- 
ing stem  of  wonderful  white  orchids  laid  across  its 
other  treasures.  Dingee  evidently  enjoyed  his  share  in 
the  business,  for  his  white  teeth  were  in  a  glitter. 

'Mass'  Morton,  Miss  Hazel.  He  done  send  'em  to 
my  young  mistiss,  wid  his  greatest  'spects.  He  say  he 
done  percolate  de  Hollow  and  couldn't  find  nuifin  more 
gorgeous,  or  he'd  send  him.'1 

1  Dingee ! '  said  his  young  mistress,  flashing  round 
upon  him,  '  do  you  venture  to  bring  me  a  made-up  mes- 
sage ?  Take  the  basket  to  Mr.  Falkirk  !  ' 

But  she  shrank  back  then,  as  they  saw,  with  extreme 
shyness.  The  little  fingers  trembled,  trying  to  busy 
themselves  among  spoons  and  cups  ;  and  one  pitiful 
glance  towards  Mr.  Falkirk  besought  him  to  take  the 
affair  into  his  own  hands,  and  send  whatever  return 
message  might  be  needful.  O  to  be  a  child,  and  put 
her  head  down  under  the  table  !  And  instead  of  that 
she  must  keep  her  place — and  she  did,  with  the  most 
ladylike  quietness.  Mr.  Falkirk -had  reason  to  be  con- 
tent with  her  for  once. 

'Nobody  waiting,  is  there,  Dingee?'  said  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk. 

'  Ye'  sir.' 

'  Take  him  this,  and  send  him  off  politely  ;  but  no 
message.  Dingee,  if  you  want  to  wag  your  tongue  in  this 
house ! ' 

'  Ye'  sir.     Got  to  be  one  somehow,  sure  ! '  said  Din- 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  l6l 

gee.  '  'Bout  sumfin  Mass'  Morton  done  say  to  Miss 
Hazel.  '  Real  stupid  feller  he  is  dat  come — can't  make 
out  what  he  says,  nohow.' 

'  About  a  drive,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  looking  over 
once  more  at  her  guardian.  'I  expect  you  to  say  no, 
sir.' 

'  What  did  you  say,  my  dear.' 

'  I  said  I  would  ask  you,  sir — the  shortest  way  to  a 
negative.'  Her  lips  were  getting  in  a  curl  again. 

Mr.  Falkirk  went  out  to  speak  to  Mr.  Morton's  mes- 
senger, and  coming  back  again  stood  looking  down  at 
the  basket  of  fruit  with  the  wreath  of  white  orchids 
lying  across  it. 

'I  hope  you  are  grateful  to  fortune,  my  dear,'  he 
remarked  rather  grimly. 

'I  hope  you  are,  .sir, — /  have  nothing  to  do  with 
that  concern,'  said  Wych  Hazel  with  prompt  decision. 

'You  don't  know,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  'It's  an  en- 
chanted basket,  Miss  Hazel.  Looks  innocent  enough  ; 
but  I  know  there  are  several  little  shapes  lurking  in 
its  depths — ants  or  flies  or  what  not — which  a  little 
conjuration  from  you  would  turn  into  carriage  horses, 
pony  and  all.' 

'They  are  safe  to  eat  grapes  in  the  share  of  ants  and 
flies  for  the  term  of  their  natural  lives,'  said  Rollo  con- 
tentedly. He  did  not  care  for  Mr.  Morton.  Indeed 
he  looked  as  if  it  would  be  difficult  to  disturb  him, 
more  than  superficially,  about  anything.  And  that,  not 
for  want  of  elements  of  disturbance,  but  because  of 
other  elements  of  character,  which  in  their  strength 
slumbered,  and  perhaps  were  scarcely  self-conscious. 
The  last  words  moreover  were  a  shield  over  Wych 
Hazel's  possible  shyness.  However  it  was,  Mr.  Fal- 
1 1 


162  WYCH    HAZEL. 

kirk  looked  across  from  the  orchids  to  him,  and  con- 
sidered him  somewhat  fixedly. 

'  If  we  are  not  to  get  them  out  of  the  basket — but 
that  would  be  very  like  a  fairy  tale — will  you  see  to  the 
matter  of  the  horses,  Rollo  ? ' 

'  If  Miss  Kennedy  commands  me,'  he  said,  with  a  smile. 
But  Miss  Kennedy  was  in  a  mood  to  keep  her  distance. 

'  I  have  told  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said.  And  now  came 
up  the  question  of  her  engagement  at  Moscheloo  ;  if 
she  was  going,  she  ought  to  be  off,  and  it  appeared  that 
there  was  no  vehicle  on  the  place  in  fit  order  to  take 
her.  Mr.  Falkirk  proposed  to  send  to  Crocus. 

'  Too  far,'  said  Rollo.  '  Suppose  you  put  yourself  in 
the  saddle,  and  let  me  convoy  you  over  to  Moscheloo  ? 
It's  good  for  a  ride,  this  morning.' 

'I  thought  you  wanted  Vixen?'  said  the  girl,  turning 
towards  him. 

'  You  don't.' 

'  Do  you  know  what  I  do  want,  as  well  as  what  I  do 
not,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  The  trouble  is,  it  is  not  to  be  had  to-day.  But  there 
is  the  grey  cob.  Always  take  the  best  there  is  to  be  had. 
Put  on  your  habit,  and  I'll  give  you  a  very  decent  can- 
ter across  the  country  to  Moscheloo.  Come  !  '  he  said, 
with  a  look  compounded  of  sweetness  and  raillery.  But 
raillery  from  Rollo'seyes  was  a  little  keen. 

She  laughed  with  a  pretty  acknowledgment  of  the  rail- 
lery, but  at  first  did  not  answer.  It  was  a  great  tempta- 
tion !  The  breakfast  had  left  her  excited  and  restless, 
and  to  get  away  from  it  all — to  have  a  canter  in  the  fresh 
wind  !  Then,  she  hated  the  very  name  of  the  grey  cob  ! 
— She  looked  over  to  Mr.  Falkirk.  He  was  looking  at 
her  earnestly,  but  he  did  not  sp^ak. 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  163 

'  Shall  I  do  that,  sir  ? ' 

'  If  you  go,  you  cannot  do  better,'  he  said,  in  a  tone 
which  certainly  signified  a  want  of  satisfaction  at  some- 
thing ;  but  that  was  not  unprecedented  in  their  discus- 
sions. 

'But  my  habit  ! — O  well,  I  can  manage  that.  Then 
\vill  you  be  ready  very  soon,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

Dane  was  ready,  there  was  no  doubt  of  that ;  but  Mr. 
Falkirk  was  on  the  verandah  also,  when  the  little  mis- 
tress of  Chickaree  come  forth  to  be  mounted  ;  and  for 
the  occasion  the  red  squirrel  went  back  to  the  old  grave 
punctilio  of  manner  he  co.ild  assume  when  he  pleased. 

That  was  all  the  surrounding  pairs  of  eyes  could  sec  ; 
a  grave  deference,  a  skilful  care  in  performance  of  his 
duties  as  Wych  Hazel's  squire.  But  to  her,  out  of  ken 
of  all  but  herself,  there  was  an  expression  of  somewli  it 
else;  in  every  touch  and  movement  and  look,  an  inde- 
scribable something,  which  even  to  her  inexperience  said  : 
'  Every  bit  of  your  little  person,  and  everything  that  con- 
cerns it,  is  precious  to  me.'  Not  one  man  in  many 
could  have  so  shewn  it  to  her,  and  hidden  it  from  the  by- 
standers. It  was  a  bit  of  cool  generalship.  Then  he 
threw  himself  on  his  own  horse,  like  the  red  squirrel  he 
was,  and  they  moved  off  slowly  together. 

Well,  she  was  not  a  vain  girl,  having  quite  too  much  of 
a  tide  in  her  fancies,  notions  and  purposes  to  be  stop- 
ping to  think  of  herself  all  the  while.  So,  though  Rollo's 
manner  did  make  her  shy,  it  stirred  up  no  self-conscious- 
ness. For  understanding  may  sleep,  while  instincts  are 
awake.  It  was  very  pleasant  to  be  liked,  and  if  she  won- 
dered a  little  why  he  should  like  her — for  Miss  Kenne- 
dy was  certainly  not  blind  to  some  of  her  own  wayward 
imperfections — still,  perhaps  the  wonder  made  it  all  the 


164  WYCH    HAZEL. 

pleasanter.  She  was  not  in  the  least  inclined  to  take 
people's  attentions  in  any  but  the  simplest  way  (if  only 
they  were  not  flung  at  her  by  the  basketful)  ;  and  in  short 
had  no  loose  tinder,  as  yet,  lying  round  to  catch  fire. 
Perhaps  that  says  the  whole.  So  she  was  about  as  grave 
and  as  gay,  as  timid  and  as  bold,  by  turns,  as  if  she  had 
been  seven  years  old. 

'  I  promised  you  a  canter,'  said  her  companion,  tak- 
ing hold  of  her  bridle  to  draw  the  grey  aside  from  a  bad 
place  in  the  road.  '  Next  time  you  shall  have  a  gallop 
— so  soon  as  I  can  find  what  will  do  for  you.  Never 
mind  for  to-day.' 

'  You  think  this  most  respectable  horse  could  so  far 
forget  himself  as  to  canter  ? ' 

'Try.'- 

And  away  they  went,  with  that  elastic,  flying  spring 
through  the  air  which  bids  spirits  bound  as  well,  and 
leaves  care  nowhere.  For  the  old  grey  had  paces,  if  his 
jollity  was  somewhat  abated  ;  and  Vixen  went  provoking- 
ly,  minding  her  business  like  one  who  thought  she  had 
better.  Nevertheless  it  was  a  good  canter. 

'  You  will  be  a  good  rider,'  said  Rollo,  when  at  length 
they  subsided  to  a  trot,  stretching  out  his  hand  again 
and  drawing  Wych  Hazel's  reins  a  little  further  through 
her  fingers.  '  There,  that  is  quite  enough  for  him,  steady 
as  he  is.  Do  you  keep  so  free  a  rein  in  the  household 
as  you  do  in  the  saddle  ? ' 

'There  has  been  no  household — and  no  bridle,  except 
for  me.' 

'  Is  Mr.  Falkirk  partial  to  a  short  rein  ? ' 

'  What  is  "  short  ?  "  '  she  said  with  a  laugh.  '  That  is 
an  utterly  unsettled  point.  Are  women  never  appointed 
guardians,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  165 

'  Certainly,'  said  Rollo,  gravely.  '  Always,  when  they 
marry.' 

She  glanced  at  him,  doubting  whether  he  might  be 
laughing  at  her. 

'But  I  mean  as  Mr.  Falkirk  was.' 

'  Not  often  ;  but  it  occasionally  happens.  I  congrat- 
ulate you  that  your  case  was  not  such.' 

'  Ah,  you  do  not  know  ! '  she  said  quickly,  with  a  sort 
of  outbreak  of  impatience. 

'  You  don't  know  either.'  said  he. 

'  Yes  I  do.  Not  much  about  women  to  be  sure — I 
have  known  very  few.  But  I  do  know  Mr.  Falkirk,  and 
love  him  dearly,  and  think  a  great  deal  more  of  him 
than  you  possibly  can,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  I  have  thought  a  great  deal  about  him,'  said  Rollo, 
in  a  sort  of  dry,  innocent-  manner.  '  But  I  will  tell  you 
— a  man's  guardianship  leaves  you  a  moral  agent ;  a 
woman's  changes  you  into  a  hunted  badger  ;  and  if  you 
were  of  some  sorts  of  nature  it  would  be  a  hunted  fox. 
You  know  I  have  been  under  guardianship  too?' 

4  Yes, but  I  thought  it  was  Dr.  Man  lard's  ?'  she  said 
looking  at  him  with  astonished  eyes.  '  And  you  speak 
—  Ah,  you  do  not  know,  as  I  said,  after  all.  You 
never  wanted  anything  that  a  man  could  not  give  you.' 

He  laughed  a  little,  his  eye  brightening  and  changing 
as  he  looked  at  her  with  a  very  winning  expression. 

'I  had  all  that  a  man  could  give  me.  Dr.  Maryland 
was  father  and  mother  in  one,  gentle  and  strong.  But  I 
have  been  in  wardship  under  a  woman  too,  partially, 
and  it  was  as  I  tt-11  you.  Dr.  Maryland  would  say  : 
"  Dane,  don't  go  there,"  or  "let  that  alone,"  and  I  did, 
except  when  a  very  wicked  fit  got  hold  of  me.  But  slit 
would  stick  a  cushion  with  pins,  to  keep  me  out  of  it, 


1 66  WYCH    HAZEL. 

and  if  she  wanted  to  keep  a  cup  from  my  lips  she  rub 
bed  gall  where  my  lips  would  find  it.' 

'  Two  guardians  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel ;  '  so  that  queer 
woman  at  Catskill  thought  /  had.  But  it  is  a  great  deal 
harder  to  have  a  man  find  fault  with  you,  nevertheless.' 

'  Why  ? '  said  Rollo,  laughingly  and  seriously  too. 

'  They  are  so  quick  in  their  judgments,'  said  the  girl ; 
'  so  sure  about  the  evidence.  The  jury  agree  without 
retiring,  and  sentence  is  passed  before  you  are  summoned 
to  attend  your  own  trial.  You  are  out  at  play  ;  you  sud- 
denly find  yourself  convicted  of  manslaughter  in  the 
fourth  degree — or  the  fiftieth  ;  it  makes  no  difference.' 
The  words  came  out  with  her  usual  quick  emphasis,  and 
then  Miss  Hazel  remembered  that  one  or  two  of  her 
words  were  suggestive.  She  flushed  very  much,  droop- 
ing her  head. 

'  Coroner's  inquest  ? '  said  Rollo,  with  a  mixture  of 
gentleness  and  fun.  But  she  made  no  answer,  unless 
by  the  soft  laugh  which  hardly  let  itself  be  heard.  He 
stretched  out  his  hand  again,  laying  it  this  time  lightly 
upon  hers,  altering  its  bearing. 

'Curb  him  in  a  little  more,'  said  he,  'a  little — so. 
Now  touch  him  gently  on  the  shoulder.  What  is  it  you 
think  you  miss  so  much  in  a  man's  guardianship? ' 

She  looked  round  at  him  then — one  of  her  girlish, 
searching  looks,  resolving  perhaps  how  far  it  was  safe 
to  be  confidential. 

'  A  good  many  things,  Mr.  Rollo,'  she  answered,  slow 
ly.  '  I  do  not  believe  you  could  understand.  But  I 
would  rather  have  fourteen  lectures  from  Mrs.  Bywank 
than  just  to  hear  one  of  Mn.Falkirk's  stiff  "  Miss  Ha- 
zels." 

'  I  cannot  remember  any  lectures  from  Mrs.  Bywank,' 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  167 

said  Rollo,  looking  as  if  his  recollections  in  that  quar 
tor  were  pleasant — '  which  were  not  as  soft  as  swans- 
down.  But  here  we  are  coming  to  Moscheloo.  Ho\v 
much  do  you  know  about  fishing? ' 

'  Rather  less  than  I  do  about  anything  else.  O,  I  re- 
member Mrs.  By  wank  said  she  used  to  know  you.' 

'  Mis.  Bywank  is  an  old  friend.  In  the  times  when  I 
had,  practically,  two  guardians — though  only  Dr.  Mary- 
land held  the  position  officially — when  there  was  nobody 
at  Chickaree,  I  used  to  go  nutting  in  your  woods  and 
fishing  in  the  same  brook  which  will.  I  hope,  give  me 
some  trout  to-day;  and  when  I  was  thoroughly  wetted  with 
a  souse  in  the  water,  or  had  torn  my  clothes  half  off  my 
back  in  climbing  to  the  tops  of  the  trees,  I  used  to  car- 
ry my  fish  and  my  difficulties  to  Mrs.  Bywank.  She 
cooked  the  one  and  she  mended  the  other  ;  we  eat  the 
fish  in  companv,  and  parted  with  the  promise  to  meet 
again.  Seems  to  me  I  ought  to  have  had  lectures,  but 
I  didn't  get  them  from  her.' 

'Well,  that  is  just  it,'  said  Hazel,  with  her  earnest 
face.  'She  understood.' 

'Understood  what  ? '  said  Rollo,  smiling. 

'  Things,'  said  Hazel,  '  and  you.' 

'  There's  a  great  deal  in  that.  Now  do  you  want 
another  canter  ? ' 

There  was  a  mile  of  smooth  way  between  them  and 
the  grounds  of  Moscheloo  ;  a  level  road  bordered  with 
Lollard  poplars.  The  grey  went  well,  spite  of  his  age 
and  steadiness,  and  Vixen  behaved  her  prettiest ;  but 
she  was  not  much  of  a  steed  after  all,  and  just  now  was 
shewing  the  transforming  power  of  a  good  rider.  And 
the  rider  was  good  company.  They  came  to  the  open 
gate  of  Moscheloo,  and  began  to  ascend  more  slowly  the 


1 68  WYCH    HAZEL. 

terraced  road  of  the  grand  entrance.  The  house  stood 
high  ;  to  reach  it  the  avenue  made  turn  after  turn,  zig 
zagging  up  the  hill  between  and  under  fine  old  trees 
that  overshadowed  its  course. 

'  Here  we  are,'  said  Rollo,  looking  up  toward  the  yet 
distant  house.  '  How  many  people  do  you  suppose 
there  will  be  here  that  know  anything  about  fish  ! ' 

'  Why,  it  is  a  fishing  party ! '  said  VVych  Hazel.  '  I 
suppose  I  am  the  only  one  who  does  not  know.' 

'  I  will  tell  you  beforehand  what  to  expect.  There 
will  be  a  great  deal  of  walking,  a  good  deal  of  luncheon, 
a  vast  deal  of  talk,  and  a  number  of  fishing  rods.  I 
shouldn't  be  surprised  if  you  caught  the  first  fish.  The 
rest  will  be  dinner.' 

'  And  you  will  reverse  that,'  said  Wych  Hazel, — '  little 
dinner  and  much  fish.' 

'  Depends,'  said  Rollo.  '  I  am  going  to  look  after 
Mr.  Falkirk,  if  he  is  in  my  neighbourhood.' 

'  Look  after  him  ! — Let  him  learn  how  it  feels  ? '  she 
said,  with  a  laugh. 

'  Not  just  in  that  sense,'  said  Rollo,  smiling.  'Only 
keep  him  from  getting  lost  in  the  woods.' 

'  He  has  nothing  to  do  in  the  woods  till  I  come,'  said 
Wych  Hazel.  '  And  I  thought  yot'  said  you  were  off 
for  a  day's  fishing  ?  ' 

'  I'll  combine  two  pleasures — if  I  can.' 

'What  is  the  other?  '  she  said,  looking  at  him. 

'  Woodcraft.' 

A  tinge  came  up  in  her  cheeks  that  might  have  been 
only  surprise.  She  looked  away,  and  as  it  were  tossed 
off  the  first  words  that  came.  Then  with  very  sedate 
deliberation  : 

'Mr.  Rollo,  I  do  not  allow  anybody  to  practice  wood 


TO    MOSCHELOO.  169 

craft  among  my  trees  without  my  special  oversight.  Not 
even  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  Suppose  Mr.  Falkirk  takes  a  different  view,'  said 
Rollo,  also  sedately,  '  am  I  answerable  ?  Because,  if 
that  is  your  meaning,  I  will  tell  him  he  undergoes  my 
challenge.' 

'  He  is  not  to  cut  a  tree  nor  a  branch  till  I  come  home.' 

'  Suppose  we  arrange,  then,  for  a  time  when  you  will 
come  out  and  give  a  day  to  the  business.  Shall  we  say 
to-morrow  ? ' 

'  O  yes,  I  agree  to  that.' 

'  There  shall  not  be  a  tree  cut,  then,  till  to-morrow. 
And  to-morrow  you  shall  have  a  lesson.  Now  here  we 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

FISHING. 

OEVERAL  people  were  on  the  steps  before  the  door, 
vI3  watching  and  waiting  for  them.  The  house  shewed 
large  and  stately  ;  the  flight  of  steps  imposing.  Hot- 
house plants  stood  around  in  boxes ;  the  turf  was  well 
shaven;  the  gravelled  road  in  order;  the  overhanging 
trees  magnificent.  Moscheloo  was  a  fine  place.  As  the 
riders  approached  the  door,  Mme.  Lasalle  came  forward, 
pouring  forth  welcomes,  and  invitations  to  Rollo.  But 
after  dismounting  Wych  Hazel,  and  so  disappointing  the 
gentleman  who  wanted  to  do  it,  Rollo  excused  himself 
and  set  off  down  the  hill  again.  Mme.  Lasalle  turned 
to  Wych  Hazel,  and  led  her,  with  flying  introductions 
by  the  way,  to  the  stairs  and  up  to  a  dressing-room. 

'  It  is  quite  charming  to  see  you,  and  to  think  that 
Chickaree  is  inhabited  and  has  a  mistress — it  makes 
Moscheloo,  I  assure  you,  several  degrees  brighter.  Now 
my  dear,  what  will  you  have  ? — is  it  nothing  but  to  take 
off  this  habit-skirt  ? — let  me  undo  it.  What  an  odd 
mortal  that  is,  that  came  with  you ! ' 

But  to  that  Wych  Hazel  answered  nothing.    The  light 


riding  skirt  and  jacket  taken  off,  left  her  in  green  from 
head  to  foot.  A  daring  colour  for  a  brunette.  But  her 
own  tint  was  so  clear  and  the  mossy  shade  of  her  dress 
was  so  well  chosen,  that  the  effect  was  extremely  good. 
She  looked  like  a  wood  nymph. 

'Charming! — vraie  Franchise  ' — said  Madame,  softly. 
'That  is  a  coquettish  colour,  my  dear — are  you  of  that 
character ! ' 

'I  am  not  sure  that  I  know  my  own  character  yet,' 
Hazel  said,  laughing  a  little. 

'  Ah  !  that's  dangerous.  You  don't  know  your  own 
character? — then  do  you  read  other  people's  ?  Rollo — 
do  you  know  him  well  ? ' 

Mme.  Lasalle  was  somewhat  officiously  but  with  great 
attention  stroking  into  order  one  or  two  of  \Vych 
Hazel's  curls  which  the  riding  had  tossed. 

'  O,  I  dare  say  I  shall  make  new  discoveries,  Mme. 
Lasalle.' 

'  He's  the  best  creature  in  the  world,  everybody  likes 
him  ;  but — Oh  dear !  well  I  suppose  all  young  men  are 
so  ;  they  all  like  power.  Did  you  notice  that  Miss  Powder 
down  stairs,  that  I  introduced  to  you  ?' 

'  Hardly.' 

'  You  had  not  time.  She's  a  sweet  creature.  Oh,  no, 
you  hadn't  time  ;  but  I  want  you  to  see  her  to-day.  I 
have  a  little  plan  in  my  head.'  And  Mme.  Lasalle  left  the 
curls  and  whispered  with  a  serious  face.  'S/ie's  the  young 
lady  Rollo  paid  so  much  devotion  to  before  he  went 
abroad.  Everybody  knew  that ;  and  I  know  he  liked  her  ; 
but  then,  you  see,  he  \vent  off,  and  nothing  came  of  it; 
but  it's  a  pity,  for  Mrs.  Powder  would  have  been  much 
pleased,  I  know,  with  her  large  family  of  daughters — to 
be  sure,  she  has  married  two  of  them  now  ; — but  what 


172  WVCH    HAZEL. 

is  worse,'  (in  a  lower  whisper)  'Annabella  would  have 
been  pleased  too ;  and  she  hasn't  been  pleased  since. 
Now  isn't  it  a  shame  ? 

Wych  Hazel  considered  the  matter.  With  a  curious 
feeling  of  disbelief  in  her  mind,  which  (without  in  the  least 
knowing  where  it  came  from)  found  its  way  to  her  face. 

'  I  wonder  she  would  tell  of  it  ! ' 

'  My  dear,  she  didn't ;  only  one  sees,  one  can't  help 
it.  One  sees  a  great  many  disagreeable  things,  but  it's 
no  use  to  think  about  it.  It  was  nothing  very  bad  in 
Rollo,  you  know  ;  he  has  that  way  with  him,  of  seeming 
to  like  people  ;  but  it  don't  mean  anything,  except  that 
he  does  like  them.  O,  I  know  that  he  liked  her — and 
I  am  going  to  make  you  accomplice  in  a  little  plot  of 
mine.  I  won't  tell  you  now — by  and  by,  when  you  have 
seen  Annabella  a  little  more.  I  would  have  asked  Dane 
to  join  our  party  to-day,  but  I  didn't  dare — I  was  afraid 
he  would  guess  what  I  was  at.  Now,  my  dear,  I  won't 
keep  you  up  here  any  longer.  Pardon  me,  you  are 
charming  !  If  Dane  sees  much  of  you,  I  am  afraid  my 
fine  scheming  will  do  Annabella  no  good  !  '  And  shak- 
ing her  head  gaily,  the  lady  ran  down  stairs  followed  by 
Wych  Hazel. 

There  was  a  great  muster  then  of  fishing-rods  and 
baskets  ;  and  everybody  being  provided,  the  company 
was  marshalled  forth,  each  lady  being  under  the  care  of 
a  gentleman,  who  carried  her  basket  and  rod.  Wych 
Hazel  found  herself  without  knowing  how  or  why,  lead- 
ing the  march  with  Mr.  Lasalle.  He  proved  rather  a 
sober  companion.  A  sensible  man,  but  thoroughly  de- 
voted to  business,  his  French  extraction  seemed  to  have 
brought  him  no  inheritance  of  grace  or  liveliness — un- 
less Mme.  Lasalle  had  acted  as  an  absorbent  and  usurp- 


FISHING.  173 

ed  it  all.  He  was  polite,  and  gave  good  host-like  atten- 
tion to  his  fair  little  companion  ;  but  it  was  as  well  for 
her  that  the  walk  presently  sufficed  of  itself  for  her  en- 
tertainment. They  went  first  across  several  fields, 
where  the  sun  beat  down  freely  on  all  their  heads,  and 
divers  fences  gave  play  to  the  active  and  useful  qualities 
of  the  gentlemen.  Suddenly  from  the  last  field  they 
went  down  a  grassy  descent — and  found  themselves  at 
the  side  of  a  brook. 

Well,  it  was  a  good-sized  brook,  overhung  with  a 
fine  bordering  of  trees  that  shaded  and  sheltered  it.  The 
ladies  cried  '  lovely  ! ' — and  so  it  was,  after  the  sunshiny 
fields  on  a  warm  June  morning.  But  this  was  not  the 
fishing  ground.  The  brook  must  be  followed  up  to  the 
woods  whence  it  came.  And  soon  the  banks  became 
higher  and  broken,  the  ascent  steeper,  the  trees  closer  ; 
no  longer  a  mere  fringe  or  veil  to  the  fostering  waters. 
Fields  were  forgotten  ;  the  brook  grew  wild  and  lively, 
and  following  its  course  became  a  matter  of  some  dif- 
ficulty. Sometimes  there  was  no  edge  of  footing  be- 
side the  stream  ;  they  must  take  to  the  stones  and 
rocks  which  broke  its  way,  or  cross  it  by  fallen  trees, 
and  recross  again.  The  woods  made  a  thicket  of  wild- 
ness  and  stillness  and  green  beauty  and  shady  sweetness, 
invaded  just  now  by  an  inroad  of  fashion  and  society. 

Like  a  sprite  Wych  Hazel  led  the  van,  making  her 
way  over  rocks  and  through  vine  tangles  and 
across  the  water,  after  a  fashion  attainable  by  no 
other  feet.  Mr.  Xasalle  had  no  trouble  but  to  follow  ; 
had  not  even  the  task  of  hearing  exclamations  or  being 
entertained  ;  for  Wych  Hazel  had  by  no  means  acquired 
that  amiable  habit  of  society  which  is  full  dress  upon 
all  occasions.  To-dav  she  was  like  a  child  out  of 


174  WYCH    HAZEL. 

school  in  her  gleeful  enjoyment,  only  very  quiet.  So 
she  flitted  on  through  the  mazes  of  the  wood  and  the 
brook,  making  deep  remarks  to  herself  over  its  dark 
pools,  perching  herself  on  a  rock  for  a  backward  look 
at  Miss  Powder,  and  then  darting  on.  The  party  in 
the  rear,  struggling  after,  eyed  her  in  the  distance  with 
various  feelings. 

'  The  flower  she  trod  on  dipped  and  rose, 
'  And  turned  to  look  at  her  ! — ' 

So  quoted  Metastasio  Simms,  who  played  the  part  of 
cavalier  to  Mine.  Lasalle,  and  of  poet  and  troubadour 
in  general. 

'  There  steals  over  me,  Madame'  said  another  cava- 
lier, 'the  fairy  tale  remembrance  of  a  marvellous  bird 
with  green  plumage — which  flitting  along  before  the 
traveller  did  thereby  allure  him  to  his  captivity.  Are 
you  pledge  for  Miss  Kennedy's  good  faith  ? ' 

'  I  am  pledged  for  nothing.  I  advise  you  to  take  care 
of  yourself,  Mr.  May — I  have  no  doubt  she  is  danger- 
ous. Haven't  we  come  far  enough  ?  Do  run  down 
the  line,  and  tell  them  all  to  stop  where  they  are ;  we 
must  not  be  too  close  upon  one  another.  And  when 
you  come  back  I  will  reward  you  with  another  commis- 
sion.' 

While  Mr.  Simms  was  gone  down  the  brook,  however, 
Mine.  Lasalle  permitted  the  pair  next  below  to  pass  her 
and  go  up  to  stop  Mr.  Lasalle  and  Wych  Hazel  from 
proceeding  any  further.  So  it  came  to  pass  that  the 
highest  group  on  the  stream  was  composed  of  four  in- 
stead of  two ;  and  the  additional  two  were  Stuart  Night- 
ingale and  Miss  Annabella  Powder.  Now  the  fishing  rods 
were  put  into  the  ladies'  hands  ;  now  their  cavaliers  at- 
tentively supplied  their  hooks  with  what  was  supposed 


FISHING.  175 

to  be  bait,  and  performing  afterwards  the  same  office  for 
their  own,  the  brook  presently  had  the  appearance,  or 
would  to  a  bird's-eye  view,  of  a  brook  in  toils. 

'  What  do  we  expect  to  catch,  sir  ? '  asked  Miss  Ken- 
nedy of  Mr.  Lasalle,  as  she  watched  his  motions  and 
dropped  her  own  line  in  imitation. 

'  If  I  were  a  member  of  the  firm,  I  should  say,  "  all 
hearts,"  mademoiselle,  without  doubt.' 

'  For  shame,  Mr.  Lasalle  ! '  cried  Miss  Powder. 

'  Fish  are  made  to  be  caught,  mademoiselle,'  said  Mr. 
Lasalle,  throwing  his  own  line  again. 

'  For  shame,  Mr.  Lasalle  !  How  many  hearts  do  you 
think  one  lady  wishes  to  catch  ? ' 

'  No  limit  that  I  know  ' — said  the  gentleman  serenely. 

'  Well,  but — are  there  no  other  fish  in  this  brook  ? ' 
said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Miss  Kennedy  makes  small  account  of  the  first  kind,' 
said  Stuart,  laughing.  'That  sport  is  old  already. 
There  must  be  difficulty  to  give  interest,  Lasalle,  you 
know.' 

'  You  gentlemen  are  complimentary,'  said  Miss  Powder. 

'  Upon  my  word,  I  said  what  I  thought,'  replied  the 
first  gentleman. 

'  Miss  Kennedy,'  called  Stuart  out  from  his  post  down 
the  brook  ;  '  should  compliments  be  true  or  false,  to  be 
compliments  ?  Miss  Powder  is  too  indignant  to  be 
judge  in  the  case.' 

'  I  do  not  see  how  false  ones  can  compliment,'  said 
the  lady  in  green,  much  intent  upon  her  line.  'There  ! 
— Mr.  Lasalle — is  that  what  you  call  a  bite  ? ' 

It  was  no  bite. 

'  But  people  need  not  know  they  are  false  ? '  pursued 
Stuart. 


176  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Well,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  looking  down  at  him,  '  you 
were  talking  of  what  things  are — not  what  they  seem.' 

'  You  may  observe,'  said  Mr.  Lasalle, '  that  most  peo- 
ple find  it  amusing  to  get  bites — if  only  they  don't  know 
there's  no  fish  at  the  end  of  them.'  Mr.  Lasalle  spoke 
feelingly,  for  he  had  just  hooked  and  drawn  up  what 
proved  to  be  a  bunch  of  weeds. 

'  But  where  there  is,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  There  !  Mr. 
Lasalle,  I  have  got  your  fish  ! '  and  swung  up  a  glittering 
trophy  high  over  the  gentleman's  head. 

'  The  first  fish  caught,  I'll  wager  !  '  cried  Stuart ;  and 
he  looked  at  his  watch.  '  Twenty-seven  minutes  past 
twelve.  Was  that  skill  or  fortune,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'  Neither,  sir,'  observed  Mr.  Simms,  who  had  wander- 
ed that  way  in  search  of  a  hook.  '  There  was  no  hope 
of  Miss  Kennedy's  descending  to  the  bed  of  the  brook 
— what  could  the  fish  do  but  come  to  her  ?  Happy  trout ! ' 

'  I  am  afraid  he  feels  very  much  like  a  fish  out  of 
water,  nevertheless,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  eyeing  her  prize 
and  her  line  with  a  demure  face. 

Alas  !  it  was  the  beginning  and  ending  of  their  good 
fortune  for  some  time.  Mr.  Simms  went  back  to  his 
place  ;  Mr.  Lasalle  disengaged  the  fish  and  rearranged 
the  bait ;  and  all  four  fell  to  work,  or  to  watching,  with 
renewed  animation  ;  but  in  vain.  The  rods  kept  their 
angle  of  suspension,  unless  when  a  tired  arm  moved  up 
or  down  ;  the  fishers'  eyes  gazed  at  the  lines  ;  the  water 
went  running  by  with  a  dance  and  a  laugh  ;  the  fish 
laughed  too,  perhaps  ;  the  anglers  did  not.  There  were 
spicy  wood  smells,  soft  W9od  flutter  and  flap  of  leaves, 
stealing  and  playing  sunbeams  among  the  leaves 
and  the  tree  stems  ;  but  there  was  too  much  Society 
around  the  brook,  and  nobody  heeded  all  these  things. 


FISHING.  177 

*  Well,  what  success  ? '  said  Mme.  Lasalle  coining  up 
after  a  while.  '  What  have  you  caught  ?  One  little 
fish!  Poor  little  thing!  Is  that  all  ?  Well,  it's  luncheon 
time.  Lasalle,  I  wish  you'd  go  and  sre  that  everybody 
is  happy  at  the  lower  end  of  the  line  ;  and  I'll  do  your 
fishing  meanwhile.  Oh,  Simms  has  almost  killed  me  ! 
Stuart !  do  take  charge  of  that  basket,  will  you  ? ' 

Mr.  Nightingale  receiving  the  basket  from  the  hands  of 
a  servant,  inquired  of  his  aunt  what  he  was  to  do  with  it. 

'Mercy!  open  it  and  give  us  all  something — I  am  as 
hungry  as  I  can  be.  What  have  you  all  been  doing  that 
you  haven't  caught  more  fish  ?  My  clear,'  (to  Wych 
HazeH,  'that  is  all  you  will  get  till  we  go  home;  we 
came  out  to  work  to-day.' 

And  Stuart  coming  up,  relieved  her  of  her  fishing  rod, 
found  a  pleasant  seat  on  a  mossy  stone,  and  opened  his 
basket. 

'As  the  fish  won't  bite — Miss  Kennedy,  will  you  ? ' 

'  If  you  please,'  she  said,  taking  a  new  view  from  her 
new  position.  'How  beautiful  everything  is  to-day! 
Certainly  I  have  learned  something  about  brooks.' 

'  And  something  about  fishing  ?  ' 

'  Not  much.' 

'  The  best  thing  about  fishing,'  said  Stuart,  after  serv- 
ing the  other  ladies  and  coming  back  to  her,  '  is  that  it 
gives  one  an  appetite.' 

'  Oh,  then  you  have  not  studied  the  brook.' 

'  Certainly  not,'  said  he,  laughing,  '  or  only  as  one 
studies  a  dictionary — to  see  what  one  can  get  out  of  it. 
Please  tell  me,  what  did  you  ?  ' 

'  New  thoughts,'  she  said.  •'  And  new  fancies.  And 
shadows,  and  colours.  I  forgot  all  abou?  die  fish  some- 
times.' 

12 


178  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  You  are  a  philosopher  ? '  said  Stuart,  inquisitively. 

'  Probably.     Don't  I  look  like  one  ? ' 

He  laughed  again,  with  an  unequivocal  compliment 
in  his  bright  eyes.  He  was  a  handsome  fellow,  and  a 
gentleman  from  head  to  foot.  So  far  at  least  as  man- 
ners can  make  it. 

'  I  do  not  judge  from  appearances.  Do  you  care  to 
know  what  I  judge  from  ? ' 

'  Your  judgment  cannot  have  been  worth  much  just 
now,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  shaking  her  head.  '  But  I  am 
willing  to  hear  what  led  it  astray.' 

'  What  led  it, — not  astray, — was  your  calm  declining 
of  all  but  true  words  of  service.' 

'  O,  had  you  gone  back  there  ?  '  she  said.  '  I  think  it 
takes  very  little  philosophy  to  decline  what  one  does  not 
want.' 

'  Evidently.  But  how  came  you  not  to  want  what 
everybody  else  wants  ?  There  is  the  philosophy,  you 
see.  If  you  bring  all  things  down  to  bare  truth,  you 
will  be  Diogenes  in  his  tub  presently.' 

'  "  Bare  Truth  !  " — said  the  girl.  '  How  people  say 
that,  as  if  truth  were  only  a  lay  figure  ! ' 

'  But  think  how  disagreeable  truth  would  often  be, 
if  it  were  not  draped  !  Could  you  stand  it  ?  I  beg 
pardon  !  I  mean,  not  you,  but  other  people  ! ' 

'  I  have  stood  it  pretty  often,'  said  the  girl  with  a 
grave  gesture  of  her  head. 

'  Impossible  !    But  did  you  believe  that  it  was  truth  ? ' 

'  Too  self-evident  to  be  doubted  ! ' 

Stuart  laughed,  again  with  a  very  unfeigned  tribute 
of  pleasure  or  admiration  in  his  face.  '  It  is  a  disa- 
greeable truth,  said  he, '  that  that  is  not  a  good  sandwich.' 
Permit  me  to  supply  its  place  with  something  else.  Here 


FISHING.  179 

is  cake,  and  nothing  beside  that  I  can  see ;  will  you 
have  a  piece  of  cake  ?  It  is  said  to  be  a  feminine  taste.' 

'  No,  not  any  cake,'  said  Hazel,  her  eyes  searching 
the  brook  shadows.  '  But  I  will  have  another  sand- 
wich, Mr.  Nightingale — if  there  is  one.  At  least,  if 
there  is  more  than  one  ! ' 

'Ah,'  said  Stuart,  ' you  shall  have  it,  and  you  shall 
not  know  the  state  of  the  basket.  Those  two  people 
have  so  much  to  talk  about,  they  have  no  time  to  eat  !  ' 
And  he  took  another  sandwich  himself. 

'  Is  that  old  woman  in  the  cottage  a  friend  of  yours  ? ' 

'  I  never  saw  her  before  the  other  day.' 

'  She  lost  no  time  1  A  little  garrulous,  isn't  she  ?  I 
made  acquaintance  there  one  day  when  I  went  in  to  light 
a  cigar.  I  have  a  mind  to  ask  you  to  give  me  the  dis- 
tinction I  am  ready  to  claim,  of  being  your  oldest  ac- 
quaintance in  these  parts.  I  think  I  shall  claim  it  yet. 
Let  me  look  at  the  state  of  your  hook.' 

They  dropped  their  lines  in  the  brook  again,  but  no 
fish  were  caught,  and  fish  might  cleverly  have  run  away 
with  their  bait  several  times  without  being  found  out. 
The  conversation  was  lively  for  some  time.  Stuart  had 
sense  and  was  amusing,  and  had  roamed  about  the  world 
enough  to  have  a  great  deal  to  say.  The  pair  were  not 
agreeably  interrupted  after  half  an  hour  by  Mine.  La- 
salle,  who  discovered  that  \Vych  Hazel  was  fishing 
where  she  could  get  nothing,  and  brought  her  down  the 
brook  to  the  close  neighbourhood  of  Miss  Powder,  where 
Stuart's  attentions  had  to  be  divided.  But  so  the  two 
girls  had  a  chance  to  see  something  of  each  other ;  a 
chance  which  Miss  Powder  improved  with  manifest  sat- 
isfaction. She  was  a  wax-Madonna  sort  of  beauty,  with 
a  sweet  face,  fair,  pure,  placid,  but  either  somewhat  im- 


l8o  WYCH   HAZEL. 

passive  or  quite  self-contained  in  its  character.  Her  fig- 
ure was  good,  her  few  words  showed  her  not  wanting  in 
sense  or  breeding. 

Wych  Hafcel  was  by  this  time  far  enough  out  of  the 
reserve  of  first  meetings  to  let  the  exhilarating  June 
air  and  sunshine  do  their  work,  and  her  voice,  never 
raised  beyond  a  pretty  note,  was  ready  with  laugh  and 
word  and  repartee.  Now  studying  her  hook,  now  ques- 
tioning Miss  Powder,  now  answering  Mr.  Nightingale, 
and  then  seriously  devoted  to  her  fishing, — she  shewed 
the  absolute  sport  of  her  young  joyous  nature,  a  thing 
charming  in  itself,  even  without  so  piquant  a  setting.  It 
was  no  great  wonder  that  a  gentleman  now  and  then  took 
ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  brook,  and  directed 
his  eyes  as  if  the  fish  would  only  come  from  that  point 
of  the  shore  where  Miss  Kennedy  sat.  This  happened 
more  and  more,  as  by  degrees  the  line  of  fisliers  was 
broken  and  the  unskilled  or  unsuccessful,  tired  of  watch- 
ing the  water,  gave  it  up,  and  strolled  up  the  brook  to 
see  who  had  better  luck.  And  so  few  fish  were  the  re- 
sult of  the  day's  sport,  so  many  of  the  company  had 
nothing  better  to  do  than  to  look  at  what  somebody  else 
was  doing,  that  by  degrees  nearly  the  whole  party  were 
gathered  around  that  spot  where  Wych  Hazel  had 
caught  the  first  fish.  They  were  relieved,  perhaps,  that 
the  effort  was  over  ;  perhaps  the  prospect  of  going  home 
to  dinner  was  encouraging  ;  certainly  the  spirits  of  all 
the  party  were  greatly  enlivened  by  something.  Mme. 
Lasalle's  ears  heard  the  pleasant  sound  of  voices  in  full 
chorus  of  .speech  and  laughter  all  the  way  home. 

It  was  rather  late  before  Midame's  carriage  could  be 
ordered  to  take  'Miss  Kennedy  home.  Mme.  Lasalle 
herself  attended  her,  and  would  suffer  the  attendance 


FISHING.  l8l 

of  no  one  else.  A  young  moon  was  shedding  a  deli- 
cious light  on  the  Lollard  poplars  past  which  Wych  Ha- 
zel had  cantered  in  the  morning.  It  was  an  hour  to  be 
still  and  enjoy,  and  think  ;  but  did  Mine.  Lasalle  ever 
think  ?  She  ceased  not  to  talk.  And  Wych  Hazel, 
after  her  day  of  caressing  and  petting  and  admiration, 
how  was  she  ?  She  had  caught  the  first  fish  ;  she  had 
been  queen  of  the  feast  ;  she  had  given  the  first  toast  ; 
she  had  received  the  first  honours  of  every  eye  and  ear 
in  the  company.  Her  host  and  hostess  had  lavished  all 
kindness  on  her  ;  ladies  had  smiled  ;  and  gentlemen, 
yes,  six  gentlemen  had  come  down  the  steps  to  put  her 
into  the  carriage.  But  if  she  wanted  to  think,  Mine. 
Lasalle  gave  her  no  chance. 

'  Where  shall  you  go  to  church  on  Sunday,  my  dear  ?  ' 
she  asked  on  the  way. 

'  Dr.  Maryland's,  of  course,  ma'am.' 

'  O,  that's  where  we  all  go,  of  course  ;  delightful 
creature  that  he  is.  And  yet  he  rebukes  every  single 
individual  thing  that  one  does.  Dear  Dr.  Maryland, 
he's  so  good,  he  don't  see  what  is  going  on  in  his  own 
family.  Do. you  know,  it  makes  me  unhappy  when  I 
think  of  it.  But,  my  dear,  that's  the  very  thing  I  wanted 
to  talk  to  you  about. — Miss  Powder,  you've  seen  her  ; 
aren't  you  pleased  with  her  ?  ' 

'  She  was  very  pleasant  to  me.' 

'  She  is  that  to  everybody,  and  her  mother  is  a  very 
fine  woman.  No*w,  my  dear,  you  will  be  at  your  pleas- 
ure, seeing  your  friends  at  Chickaree — couldn't  you 
contrive  to  bring  Dane  and  Annabella  together  again  ? ' 

'  I  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel,  surprised.  '  Why,  I  do  not 
know  how  to  contrive  things  for  myself.' 

'  O  !  I  do  not  mean  anything  complicated — that  never 


1&2  WYCH    HAZEL. 

does  well ;  but  you  could  quite  naturally,  you  know, 
give  them  opportunities  of  seeing  each  other  pleasantly. 
I  think  if  he  saw  her  he  might  come  round  again 
and  take  up  his  old  fancy  ;  and  you  being  a  stranger, 
you  know,  might  do  it  without  the  least  difficulty  or 
gaucherie  ;  they  would  meet  quite  on  neutral  ground, 
for  nobody  would  suspect  that  you  were  au  fait  of  our 
country  complications.  I  dare  not  stir,  you  see  ;  that 
was  the  reason  I  could  not  invite  Dane  to  our  fishing 
to-day.  I  knew  it  wouldn't  do.  This  was  my  plot  for 
you,  that  I  told  you  about — what  do  you  think  ?  It  would 
be  doing  a  kind  thing,  and  hurting  nobody,  at  any  rate.' 

It  did  come  to  Miss  Kennedy's  mind  that  Mr.  Rollo 
was  quite  capable  of  '  contriving,'  his  own  situations  ;  but 
she  answered  only,  '  Would  it,  ma'am  ? ' 

'  It  couldn't  do  any  harm,  you  know.  And  you  are 
the  very  person  to  do  it.  And  then,  if  your  plan  should 
succeed,  it  would  have  another  good  effect,  to  put  Prim- 
rose Maryland  in  safety.' 

If  it  had  been  daylight  instead  of  moonlight,  Mme. 
Lasalle  might  have  seen  the  young  face  at  her  side  knit 
itself  into  a  very  perplexed  state  indeed  at  these  words  ; 
and  the  more  Hazel  thought  the  deeper  she  got. 

'  It  would  be  quite  natural,  you  know,'  Mme.  Lasalle 
went  on  after  a  pause,  '  that  a  girl  like  her  should  be 
fascinated,  and  Rollo,  without  meaning  to  do  any  harm, 
would  give  her  cause  enough.  He  is  fascinating  you 
know,  but  he  is  too  cool  by  half.  Dr.  Maryland,  of 
course,  never  would  see  or  understand  what  was  going 
on;  and  Primrose  is  so  sweet  and  inexperienced.  I 
know  her  sister  was  very  uneasy  about  it  before  Rollo 
went  away — so  long  ago.  I  fancy  his  going  was  partly 
thanks  to  her  care.' 


FISHING.  183 

Closer  and  Closer  came  the  dark  brows  together,  un- 
til by  degrees  her  extremely  fancy-free  thoughts  took  a 
turn.  'What  a  fuss!  what  was  Mme.  Lasalle  talking 
about  ?  "  Fascinating,"  forsooth  ! — she  should  like  to 
see  anybody  that  could  fascinate  her.  And  so  the 
whole  thing  grew  ludicrous,  and  she  laughed,  her  soft 
ringing,  girlish  laugh. 

'  What  a  pirate  he  must  be,  Mine.  Lasalle.  A  true 
Dane  !  Do  many  of  that  sort  live  on  shore  ?' 

'Take  care  !  '  said  the  lady  in  a  different  tone—'  dan- 
gers that  are  slighted  are  the  first  to  be  run  into.' 

The  carriage  stopped  at  that  moment,  so  Wych  Hazel 
had  no  need  to  reply.  She  watched  Mine.  Lasalle  drive 
off,  took  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  moon  for  a  minute, 
and  then  pirouetting  round  on  the  tips  of  her  toes  she 
flashed  into  the  sitting  room  and  favoured  Mr.  Falkirk 
with  a  courtesy  profound  enough  for  her  grandmother. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

ENCHANTED     GROUND. 

MR.  FALKIRK  was  sitting  with  the  paper  in  the 
tea-room  at  Chickaree.  A  good  lamplight  gave 
him  every  temptation  to  lose  himself  in  its  manifold  pages, 
but  somehow  the  temptation  failed.  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
been  walking  the  floor  for  part  of  the  evening  ;  going  then 
to  one  of  the  long  windows  and  throwing  it  open — there 
were  no  mosquitoes  at  Chickaree — to  look  out  at  the 
moonlight,  or  perhaps  to  listen  for  the  sound  of  wheels  , 
but  the  Summer  stillness  was  only  marked  by  the  song 
of  insects  and  the  light  stir  of  leaves,  and  Mr.  Falkirk 
went  back  to  his  musings.  His  hand  caressed  his  chin 
sometimes,  in  slow  and  moody  deliberation.  No  doubt 
the  change  was  a  serious  one,  from  the  quiet,  unques- 
tioned care  of  a  schoolgirl,  to  the  guardianship  of  a 
bright,  full-winged  butterfly  of  humanity.  That  does 
not  half  express  it.  For  to  the  airy  uncertainty  of  but- 
terfly motions,  his  ward  certainly  added  the  intense  ac- 
tivities of  a  humming  bird,  and  the  jealous  temper,  with- 
out the  useful  proclivities,  of  a  honey  bee.  I  think  Mr. 
Falkirk  likened  her  to  all  these  in  his  meditations  ;  and 


ENCHANTED    GROUND.  185 

his  brows  knit  themselves  into  a  persistent  frown  as  he 
walked.  For  all  that,  when  the  wheels  of  Mine.  Lasalle's 
carriage  grated  on  the  gravel  sweep,  Mr.  Falkirk  sat 
down  to  the  table  and  the  newspaper,  and  as  Wych 
Hazel  opened  the  cloor  and  walked  in,  Mr.  Falkirk 
looked  up  sedately.  Then  his  face  unbent,  a  very  little, 
but  he  waited  for  her  to  speak. 

'  Good  evening,  my  dear  Mr.  Falkirk  ! '  Mr.  Falkirk  was 
not  morose,  but  he  made  little  answer  beyond  a  smile. 

'  I  perceive  you  have  been  pining  for  my  return,  sir,' 
said  Miss  Hazel  advancing  airily;  '  but  why  you  do  not 
revive  when  I  come,  that  puz/les  my  small  wits.  Are 
you  overjoyed  to  see  me  safe  home,  Mr.  Falkirk  ?  ' 

'  I  wait  to  be  certified  of  the  fact,  Miss  Ha/el.' 

She  came  to  a  low  seat  before  him,  silently  crossing 
her  arms  on  her  lap. 

'  What  are  the  developments  of  fortune,  to-day,  Miss 
Hazel? '  said  her  guardian  with  a  relaxing  face. 

'  A  number  of  gentlemen,  sir,  and  one  iish.  Which  I 
caught.  There  were  some  ladies,  too,  but  they  came 
less  in  my  way.' 

'  Um  !  So  I  understand  you  catch  all  that  come  in 
your  way  ?  ' 

'  Only  the  fish,  sir.  But  you  should  have  heard  the 
people  thereupon  !  One  cried,  "  Happy  fish  !  '' — and 
another,  "  Happy  Miss  Kennedy  !  " — And  yet  I  sup- 
pose we  had  both  of  us  known  more  ecstatic  moments.' 

'  And  what  is  your  impression  of  fishing  parties,  judg- 
ing from  this  specimen  ? ' 

'  O,  I  was  amused,  of  course.  But  the  brook  was  de- 
licious. You  know,  it  was  all  new  to  me,  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  Like  the  fairy-tale  you  wanted  ? '  said  her  guardian 
smiling. 


1 86  WYCH    HAZEL. 

She  smiled,  too,  but  her  answer  was  only  a  sweet, 
'Are  you  glad  to  see  me  here,  sir  ? ' 

'  I  am  glad  if  you  are  glad,  Miss  Hazel.  I  did  not  sus- 
pect that  any  genie  or  enchanter  had  got  hold  of  you  yet.' 

'  Only  "  if,"  '  she  said  to  herself.  '  I  wonder  how  it  feels 
to  have  anybody  care  for  one  very  much  !  '  But  no  word 
of  that  came  out. 

'  Are  you  glad  to  get  home,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Yes,  sir.     The  drive  was  rather  stupid.' 

'  Did  you  come  alone  ? ' 

'  I  had  Madame  in  person,  and  with  her  all  the  un- 
quiet ghosts  of  the  neighbourhood,  I  should  judge,'— 
added  Miss  Hazel  thoughtfully  slipping  her  bracelets  up 
and  down. 

'  Scandal,  eh  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  'And  yet  the  drive 
was  stupid  ! ' 

'Incredible,  sir,  is  it  not?  But  you  see,  I  had  been 
ever  so  long  face  to  face  with  the  brook ! — ' 

'  I  do  not  know  that  I  am  fond  of  scandal,1  said  Mr. 
Falkirk  ;  '  and  yet  I  should  like  to  know  what  particular 
variety  of  that  favourite  dish  Madame  chose  to  serve  you 
with.  And  in  the  mean  time,  to  relieve  the  dryness  of 
the  subject,  Miss  Hazel,  will  you  give  me  a  cup  of  tea  ?  ' 

She  sprang  up,  and  began  to  busy  herself  at  once 
with  her  home  duties,  but  did  not  immediately  answer 
his  question.  Until  she  came  round  to  his  side,  bring- 
ing the  fragrant  and  steaming  cup  of  tea,  and  then  ap- 
parently thoughts  were  too  much  for  hert  and  she  broke 
forth : 

'  Why  don't  people  marry  each  other  if  they  want  to, 
Mr.  Falkirk  ? '  she  said,  standing  still  to  put  the  ques- 
tion. '  And  if  they  don't  want  to,  why  do  not  other  peo- 
ple let  them  alone  ? ' 


ENCHANTED    GROUND.  187 

Mr.  Falkirk  shot  one  of  his  glances  at  the  questionei 
from  under  his  dark  brows,  and  sipped  his  tea. 

'  There  might  be  a  variety  of  answers  given  to  youi 
first  query,  Miss  Hazel.  People  that  want  to  marry 
each  other  are  proverbially  subject  to  hindrances — 
from  the  days  of  fairy  tales  down  to  our  own.' 

'  They  always  do  it  in  fairy  tales,  however.' 

'  They  very  often  do  it  in  real  life,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk 
gravely. 

'  Well,  sir  ? — then  why  cannot  they  be  left  to  take 
care  of  themselves,  either  way  ?  It  is  such  fudge  !  '  she 
said,  walking  back  to  her  place  and  energetically  drop- 
ping sugar  in  her  own  cup. 

'Who  is  Mme.Lasalle  trying  to  take  care  of  ? ' 

'  Me,  last,  sir.  Warning  me  that  things  laughed  at 
become  dangerous.  In  which  case  I  shall  lead  a  tolera- 
bly risky  life.' 

'  Who  is  Mine.  Lasalle  warning  you  against  ? '  de- 
manded Mr.  Falkirk  hastily. 

'  My  dear  sir,  how  excited  you  are  over  poor  Mine. 
Lasalle  !  I  presumed  to  laugh  at  some  of  her  fancy 
sketches,  and  then  of  course  she  rapped  me  over  the 
knuckles.  Or  meant  it !  '  said  Miss  Hazel,  slightly 
lifting  her  eyebrows. 

'  But  I  observe  you  do  not  answer  me,  my  dear.' 

'  No,  sir, — if  you  will  allow  me  to  use  my  own  judg- 
ment, I  think  I  had  better  not.  Let  me  have  your  cup, 
Mr.  Falkirk  please,  and  I'll  put  more  sugar  in  this  time.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  finished  his  tea  and  made  no  more  ob- 
servations. He  was  silent  and  thoughtful, — moody, 
his  ward  might  have  fancied  him, — while  the  tea-things 
were  cleared  away,  and  afterwards  pored  over  the 
newspaper  and  did  not  read  it.  At  last,  when  silence 


1 88  WYCH    HAZEL. 

had  reigned  some  time,  he  lifted  his  head  up  and  turned 
round  to  where  Wych  Hazel  sat. 

'  I  have  been  considering  a  difficulty,  Miss  Hazel  j 
will  you  help  me  out  ? ' 

'  Gladly,  sir,  if  I  can.'  She  had  been  sitting  in  mus- 
ing idleness,  going  over  the  day  perhaps,  for  now  and 
then  her  lips  curled  and  parted,  with  various  expres- 
sions. 

'  We  have  come,  you  are  aware,  Miss  Hazel,  in  the 
course  of  our  progress,  to  the  Enchanted  Region ; — 
where  things  are  not  what  they  seem  ;  jewels  lie  hid  in 
the  soil  for  the  finding,  and  treasures  are  at  the  top  of 
the  hill ;  but  the  conditions  of  success  maybe  the  stop- 
ping of  the  ears,  you  know  ;  and  lovely  ladies  by  the  way 
may  turn  out  to  be  deadly  enchantresses.  How,  in  this 
time  of  dangers  and  possibilities,  can  my  wisdom  avail 
for  your  inexperience  ?  that  is  my  question.  Can  you 
tell  me  ? ' 

'  Truly  sir,'  she  answered  with  a  laugh,  '  to  get  your- 
self out  of  a  difficulty,  you  get  me  in  !  My  inexperience 
is  totally  in  the  dark  as  to  what  your  wisdom  means.' 

'Precisely,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  ;  'so  how  shall  we  do? 
How  shall  I  take  care  of  you  ?  ' 

'You  have  always  known  how,  sir,'  she  answered  with 
a  grateful  flash  of  her  brown  eyes. 

'  When  I  had  only  a  little  Wych  Hazel  to  take  care  of, 
and  the  care  depended  on  myself,'  Mr.  Falkirk  said, 
with  just  an  indication  of  a  sigh  stifled  somewhere. 
'  Now,  I  can't  get  along  without  your  cooperation,  my 
dear.' 

'  Am  I  so  much  harder  to  manage  than  of  old,  sir  ? 
That  speaks  ill  for  me.' 

'Mycbxr,  I  bilijve    I  remarked  that  we  are    upon 


ENCHANTED    GROUND.  189 

Enchanted  ground.  It  does  not  speak  ill  for  you,  that 
you  may  not  know  a  bewitched  pumpkin  from  a  good 
honest  piece  of  carriage  maker's  work.' 

'  No,  sir.  It  is  the  pumpkin  variety  for  which  Mr. 
Rollo  is  to  find  mice  ? ' 

'  I  have  taken  care  of  your  affairs  at  least,'  said  Mr. 
Falkirk  gravely.  '  There  is  nothing  about  them  that  is 
not  sound.  I  wish  other  people  did  not  know  it  so 
well  !  '  he  muttered. 

'  It  is  only  poor  little  me,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Never 
mind,  sir, — in  fairy  tales  one  always  comes  out  somehow. 
But  I  am  sure  I  ought  to  be  "  sound  "  too,  if  care  would 
do  it.' 

'  Will  you  help  me,  Hazel  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  bend- 
ing towards  her  and  speaking  her  name  as  in  the  old 
childish  days. 

'Gladly,  sir, — if  you  will  shew  me  ho\v.  And  if  it  is 
not  too  hard,'  she  said  with  a  pretty  look,  well  answer- 
ing to  her  words. 

'I  wish  you  had  a  mother  ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk  abrupt- 
ly. And  he  turned  back  to  the  table,  and  for  a  little 
while  that  was  all  the  answer  he  made  ;  while  Wych 
Hazel  sat  waiting.  But  then  he  began  again. 

'  As  I  remarked  before,  Miss  Hazel,  we  are  come  upon 
bewitched  ground  in  our  search  after  fortune.  You 
spoke  of  two  classes  of  people  a  while  ago,  if  you  re- 
member— people  that  want  to  marry  each  other  and 
people  that  don't? 

'Yes  sir.     Which  are  there  most  of? ' 

'  Being  upon  bewitched  ground,  it  might  happen  to 
you  as  to  others — mind,  not  this  year,  perhaps,  nor  next; 
but  it  might  happen — that  you  should  find  yourself  in 
one  of  these  two,  as  you  intimate,  large  classes.  Sup 


IQO  WYCH    HAZEL. 

pose  it ;  could  you,  having  no  mother,  put  confidence 
in  an  old  guardian  ? ' 

Very  grave,  very  gentle  Mr.  Falkirk's  manner  and 
tone  were  ;  considerate  of  her,  and  very  humble  con- 
cerning himself. 

'  Why,  sir  !  ' — she  looked  at  him,  the  roses  waking  up 
in  her  cheeks  as  she  caught  his  meaning  more  fully. 
Then  her  eyes  fell  again,  and  she  said  softly — '  How  do 
you  mean,  Mr.  Falkirk  ?  There  is  nobody  in  the  world 
whom  I  trust  as  I  do  you.' 

'  I  have  never  a  doubt  of  that,  my  dear.  But  to  make 
the  trust  avail  you  or  me,  practically,  could  you  let  me 
know  the  state  of  affairs  ? ' 

She  moved  restlessly  in  her  chair,  drawing  a  long 
breath  or  two. 

'  You  say  such  strange  things,  sir.  I  do  assure  you, 
Mr.  Falkirk,  I  am  ensconced  in  the  very  middle  of  one  of 
those  classes.  And  that  not  the  dangerous  one,'  she 
added  with  a  laugh,  though  the  flushes  came  very  frank- 
ly. '  If  that  is  what  you  are  afraid  of.' 

'You  are  in  about  as  dangerous  a  class  as  any  I  know,' 
said  Mr.  Falkirk,  dryly  •  '  the  class  of  people  that  every- 
body wants  to  marry.  Miss  Hazel,  you  are  known  to 
be  the  possessor  of  a  very  large  property.' 

*  Am  I,  sir  ?  And  is  that  what  makes  me  so  attract- 
ive ?  I  thought  that  there  must  be  some  explanation  of 
so  sweeping  a  compliment  from  your  lips.' 

A  provoked  little  smile  came  upon  Mr.  Falkirk's  lips, 
but  they  grew  grave  again. 

'  So,  Miss  Hazel,  how  are  you  to  know  the  false  ma- 
gician from  the  true  knight  ?  ' 

'  He  must  be  a  poor  knight  who  would  leave  the 
trouble  on  my  hands,'  said  the  girl,  with  her  young  ideas 


ENCHANTED    GROUND.  191 

strong  upon  her.  4  If  he  does  not  prove  himself,  Mr. 
Falkirk,  "  I'll  none  of  him  !  "  : 

4  How  shall  a  man  prove  to  you  that  he  does  not 
want  Chickaree  and  your  money,  my  dear  ? ' 

'  Instead  of  me.  I  think — I  should  know,'  she  an- 
swered slowly,  so  much  absorbed  in  the  question  that 
she  almost  forgot  its  personal  bearing.  '  Mr.  Falkirk, 
false  and  true  cannot  be  just  alike  ? ' 

'  Remember  that  in  both  cases  so  much  is  true.  The 
desire  to  win  your  favour,  and  therefore  the  effort  to 
please,  are  undoubted.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,  you  must  be  the  assayer  !  Suppose 
you  tell  me  now  about  all  these  people  here,  to  begin 
with.  I  have  not  seen  much  that  reminded  me  of  magic 
yet]  she  said  with  a  curl  of  her  lips. 

'  What  people  ?'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  hastily. 

'  What  people  ?  Oh,  I  forgot — you  were  not  at  Mine. 
Lasalle's  to-day.  But  I  thought  you  knew  everybody 
here  before  we  came.' 

'  I  shall  not  be  with  you  everywhere,'  Mr.  Falkirk 
went  on  ;  '  that  would  suit  neither  me  nor  you.  The 
safe  plan,  Miss  Hazel,  would  be,  when  you  think  any- 
body is  seeking  your  good  graces,  to  ask  me  whether  he 
has  gained  mine.  I  will  conclude  nothing  of  your  views 
in  the  matter  from  any  such  confidence.  But  I  will  ask 
you  to  trust  me  thus  far, — and  afterwards.' 

4  You  mean,  sir,  whether — he  has  gained  mine  or  not  ?' 

Mr.  Falkirk  answered  this  with  one  of  his  rare  smiles, 
shrewd  and  sweet,  benignant,  and  yet  with  a  play  of 
something  like  mirth  in  the  dark,  overhung  eyes.  It 
was  a  look  which  recognized  all  the  difficulty  of  the  sit- 
uation and  the  subject,  for  both  parties. 

4 1  am  afraid  the  thing  is  unmanageable,  my  dear,'  he 


1 92  WYCH    HAZEL. 

said  at  last.  '  You  will  rush  up  the  hill  without  stop- 
ping your  ears,  after  some  fancied  "  golden  water  "  at  the 
top  ;  and  I  shall  come  after  and  find  you  turned  into 
some  stone  or  other.  And  then  you  will  object  very 
much  to  being  picked  up  and  put  in  my  pocket.  I  see 
it  all  before  me.' 

She  laughed  a  little,  but  shyly ;  not  quite  at  ease  upon 
the  subject  even  with  him.  Then  rose  up,  gathering  on 
her  arm  the  light  wraps  she  had  thrown  down  when  she 
came  in. 

'  I  must  have  been  always  a  great  deal  of  trouble  ! ' 
she  said.  '  But  I  do  not  want  to  give  you  more.' 
Mr.  Falkirk,  won't  you  kiss  me  and  say  good  night  to 
me,  as  you  used  to  do  in  the  old  times  ?  That  is  better 
than  any  number  of  fastenings  to  your  pocket,  to  keep 
me  from  jumping  out.' 

Once  it  had  been  his  habit,  as  she  said  ;  now  long 
disused.  He  did  not  at  once  answer ;  he,  too,  was 
gathering  up  a  paper  or  two  and  a  book  from  the  table. 
But  then  he  came  where  she  stood,  and  taking  her  hand 
stooped  and  kissed  her  forehead.  He  did  not  then  say 
good  night ;  he  kissed  her  and  went.  And  the  barring 
and  bolting  and  locking  up  for  the  night  were  done  with 
a  more  hurried  step  than  usual. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

COURT    IN    THE    WOODS. 

MISS  WYCH— my  dear— all  in  brown?  said  Mrs. 
Bywank  doubtfully,  as  her  young  charge  was  ar- 
raying herself  one  morning  for  the  woodcraft.  Some 
rain  and  some  matters  of  business  had  delayed  the  oc- 
casion, and  it  was  now  a  good  week  since  the  fishing 
party. 

'  Harmonious,  isn't  it  ?'  said  Hazel. 

'  But,  my  dear — it  looks — so  sombre  !'  said  Mrs.  By- 
wank. 

'  Sombre  ? '  said  the  girl,  facing  round  upon  her  with 
such  tinges  of  cheek  and  sparkles  of  eye  that  Mrs.  By- 
wank  laughed,  too,  and  gave  in. 

'If  it  puts  Mr.  Falkirk  to  sleep,  I  can  wake  him  up,' 
said  Wych  Hazel,  busy  with  her  loopings.  '  And  as  for 
Mr.  Rollo  '— 

'  Mr.  Rollo! — is  he  to  be  of  the  party  ? '  said  the  house- 
keeper. 

'  I  suppose, — really, — he  is  the  party,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'  Mr.  Falkirk  and  I  scarcely  deserve  so  festive  a  name 
by  ourselves.' 

'  And  what  were  you  going  to  say  of  Mr.  Rollo  ?' 
13 


194  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  O  nothing  much.  He  may  go  to  sleep  if  he  chooses 
— and  can,'  added  Miss  Wych,  for  the  moment  looking 
her  name.  But  the  old  housekeeper  looked  troubled. 

'  My  dear,'  she  began — '  I  wouldn't  play  off  any  of 
my  pranks  upon  Mr.  Rollo,  if  I  were  you.' 

'  What  is  the  matter  with  Mr.  Rollo,  that  his  life  must 
be  insured  ?  '  said  Wych,  gravely  confronting  her  old 
friend  with  such  a  face  that  Mrs.  Bywank  was  again  be- 
trayed into  an  unwilling  laugh.  But  she  returned  to  the 
charge. 

'  I  wouldn't,  Miss  Wych  !  Gentlemen  don't  under- 
stand such  things.' 

'  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Rollo  seems  dull,'  said  the  girl, 
with  a  face  of  grave  reflection.  '  Now,  Byo — what  are 
you  afraid  I  shall  do? '  she  went  on,  suddenly  changing 
her  tone,  and  laying  both  hands  on  her  old  friend's 
shoulders. 

'  Why,  nothing,  Miss  Wych,  dear  ! — I  mean,' — Mrs. 
Bywank  hesitated. 

'  You  mean  a  great  deal,  I  see,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'  But  do  not  you  see,  Byo,  I  cannot  hang  out  false  colours  ? 
There  is  no  sort  of  use  in  my  pretending  not  to  be  wild, 
because  I  am.' 

Mrs.  Bywank  looked  up  in  the  young  face, — loving 
and  anxious. 

'  Miss  Wych,'  she  said,  'what  men  of  sense  disapprove, 
young  ladies  in  general  had  better  not  do.' 

'  O,  I  cannot  follow  you  there,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'  Suppose,  for  instance,  Mr.  Rollo  (I  presume  you  mean 
him  by  "  men  of  sense  ")  took  a  kink  against  my  brown 
dress  ?' 

Not  very  likely,  Mrs.  Bywank  thought,  as  she  looked 
at  the  figure  before  her.  If  Hazel  had  been  a  wood 


COURT    IN    THE    WOODS.  195 

nymph  a  week  ago  she  was  surely  the  loveliest  of  brown 
fairies  to-day.  But  still  the  old  housekeeper  sighed. 

'  My  dear,  I  know  the  world,'  she  began. 

'  And  I  don't,  said  Hazel.  'I  am  so  glad  !  Never  fear, 
Byo,  for  to-day  at  least  I  have  got  Mr.  Falkirk  between 
me  and  mischief.  And  there  he  is  this  minute,  wanting 
his  breakfast.' 

But  to  judge  by  the  housekeeper's  face  as  she  looked 
after  her  young  mistress  down  the  stairs,  that  barrier 
was  not  quite  all  that  could  be  wished.  However,  if  im- 
penetrability were  enough  for  a  barrier,  Mr.  Falkirk 
could  have  met  any  inquisitions  that  morning. 

He  came  to  breakfast  as  usual  ;  but  this  morning 
breakfast  simply  meant  business.  He  ate  his  toast  and 
read  his  newspaper.  With  the  ending  of  breakfast  came 
Rollo.  And  the  party  presently  issued  forth  into  the 
woods  which  were  to  be  the  scene  of  the  day's  work. 

The  woods  of  Chickaree  were  old  and  fine.  For  many 
years  undressed  and  neglected,  they  had  come  at  last  to 
a  rather  rampant  state  of  anarchy  and  misrule.  Feebler, 
though  perhaps  not  less  promising  members  were  op- 
pressed by  the  overtopping  growth  of  the  stronger ; 
there  was  an  upstart  crowd  of  young  wood  ;  and  the  best 
intentioned  trees  were  hurtingeach  other's  efforts,because 
of  want  of  room.  It  was  a  lovely  wilderness  into  which 
the  party  plunged,  and  the  June  morning  sat  in  the  tops 
of  the  trees  and  laughed  down  at  them.  Human  na- 
ture could  hardly  help  laughing  back  in  return,  so  utterly 
joyous  were  sun  and  sky,  birds  and  insects  and  trees  alto- 
gether. They  went  first  to  the  wilderness  through  which 
Rollo  and  Wych  Hazel  had  made  their  way  on  foot  one 
morning;  lying  near  to  the  house  and  in  the  immediate 
region  of  its  owner's  going  and  coming.  Herein  were 


196  WYCH    HAZEL. 

great  white  oaks  lifting  their  heads  into  greater  silvei 
pines.  Here  were  superb  hemlocks  threatened  by  a 
usurping  growth  of  young  deciduous  trees.  There  were 
dogwoods  throwing  themselves  across  everything  ;  and 
groups  of  maples  and  beeches  struggling  with  each  other. 
As  yet  the  wild  growth  was  in  many  instances  beautiful  ; 
the  damage  it  was  doing  was  beyond  the  reach  of  any 
but  an  experienced  eye.  Here  and  there  a  cross  in  white 
chalk  upon  the  trunk  of  a  tree  was  to  be  seen. 

The  three  walked  slowly  down  through  this  leafy  wild 
till  they  were  lost  in  it. 

'Now,'  said  Rollo  to  the  little  lady  in  brown,  'what 
do  you  think  ought  to  be  done  here  ? ' 

'  I  should  like  to  make  ways  through  all  this,  if  I 
could.  True  wildwood  ways,  I  mean, — that  one  must 
look  for  and  hardly  find  ;  with  here  and  there  a  great 
clearance  that  should  seem  to  have  made  itself.  What 
sort  of  a  track  would  a  hurricane  make  here,  for 
instance  ? ' 

'  A  hurricane !'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  facing  round  upon 
his  ward. 

'  Rather  indiscriminate  in  its  action,'  observed  Rollo. 

'  The  clearance  a  hurricane  makes  in  a  forest, '  Mr. 
Falkirk  went  on,  '  is  generally  in  the  tree  tops.  The 
ground  is  left  a  wreck.' 

'  Any  system  of  clearing  that  I  know,  brings  the  trees 
to  the  ground,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  But  I  mean — I 
like  the  woods  clearly  as  they  are,  Mr.  Falkirk  ;  but  if  I 
meddled  with  them,  then  I  would  have  something  to  shew 
for  it.  I  would  have  thoughts  instead  of  the  trees,  and 
vistas  full  of  visions.  If  anything  is  cut  here,  it  ought 
to  be  in  a  broad  hurricane  track  right  clown  to  the  West, 
where 


COT/RT   IN   THE   WOODS.  igf 

"  The  wind  shall  seek  them  vainly,  and  the  sun 
Gaze  on  the  vacant  space  for  centuries." 

I  do  not  like  fussing  with  such  woods.' 

'  What  thought  is  expressed  by  a  wide  system  of  de- 
vastation ?'  asked  Rollo,  facing  her. 

'  Power.  Do  not  you  like  power,  Mr.  Rollo  ? '  she 
said  with  a  demure  arch  of  her  eyebrows. 

Rollo  bit  his  lips  furtively  but  vigorously,  and  then 
demanded  to  know  if  Napoleon  was  her  favourite  char- 
acter in  history. 

'  No,'  said  Wych  Hazel — '  he  did  not  know  what  to  do 
witlt  his  power  when  he  had  it.  A  very  common  mis- 
take, Mr.  Rollo,  you  will  find.' 

'  Don't  make  it,'  said  he,  smiling. 

'What  are  you  talking  about?'  said  Mr.  Falkirk, 
turning  round  upon  them.  '  Miss  Hazel,  we  are  here  in 
obedience  to  your  wishes.  What  do  you  propose  to  do, 
now  we  are  here  ?  Do  you  know  what  needs  doing  ? ' 

'What  does,  Mr.  Falkirk? — in  your  opinion?'  She 
came  close  to  him,  linking  her  hands  upon  his  arm. 
'Tell  me  first,  and  then  I  will  tell  you.' 

'There  must  be  a  great  many  trees  cut,  Miss  Hazel  ; 
'they  have  grown  up  to  crowd  upon  each  other  very  mis- 
chievously. And  a  large  quantity  of  saplings  and  under- 
brush must  be  cleared  away.  You  see  where  I  have 
begun  to  mark  trees  for  the  axe.' 

'Truly,  sir,  I  do!  Mr.  Falkirk,  that  bent  oak  is  a 
beauty.' 

'  It  will  never  make  a  fine  tree.  And  the  oak  beside 
it  will.' 

'Well — it  is  to  be  congratulated,' said  Miss  Hazel, 
pensively.  '  But  what  is  to  become  of  my  poor  woods, 
at  that  rate?  There  is  an  elm  with  a  branch  too  many 


198  WYCH    HAZEL. 

on  one  side  ;  and  a  birch  keeping  house  lovingly  with  a 
hemlock.  If  "  woodcraft "  means  only  such  line-and-rule 
decimation,  Mr.  Falkirk — ' 

'  I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by  woodcraft,  my  dear, 
/mean,  taking  care  of  the  woods.' 

'And  that  means,'  added  Rollo,  'an  intimate  know- 
ledge of  their  natures,  and  an  affectionate  care  for  their 
interests ;  a  sympathetic,  loving,  watchful  insight  and 
forecast.' 

Wych  Hazel  gave  him  a  little  nod  of  approval. 

'  Don't  you  see,  sir  ? '  she  went  on  eagerly.  '  You 
must  have  a  bent  tree  now  and  then,  because  it  is  twice 
as  interesting  as  the  straight  ones.  And  if  you  cut  down 
all  the  bushes,  Mr.  Falkirk,  you  will  clear  w^out,'  she 
added,  laughing  up  in  his  face. 

'  You  might  grant  her  so  much,  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said  the 
other  gentleman.  '  A  bent  tree  now  and  then  ;  and  all 
her  namesakes.  Certainly  they  ought  to  stand.' 

Mr.  Falkirk's  answer  was  to  take  a  few  steps  to  a 
large  white  pine  tree,  and  make  a  huge  dash  of  white 
chalk  upon  its  broad  bole.  Then  he  stepped  back  to 
look  again.  Action  was  more  in  his  way  than  discussion 
to-day.  Rollo  began  to  get  into  the  spirit  of  the  thing . 
and  suggested  and  pointed  out  here  and  there  what 
ought  to  come  down  and  what  ought  to  be  left,  and  the 
reasons,  with  a  quick,  clear  insight  and  decision  to  which 
Mr.  Falkirk  invariably  assented,  and  almost  invariably 
in  silence.  Deeper  and  deeper  into  the  wood  they 
worked  their  way ;  where  the  shade  lay  dark  upon  the 
ferns  and  the  air  was  cool  and  spicy  with  fragrance,  and 
then  where  the  sunlight  came  down  and  played  at  the 
trees'  foot.  For  a  while  Wych  Hazel  kept  pace  with 
their  steps;  advising,  countermanding,  putting  in  her 


COURT    IN    THE    WOODS.  199 

word  generally.  But  by  degrees  she  quitted  the  mark- 
ing work,  and  began  to  flit  about  by  herself ;  plunging 
her  little  fingers  deep  into  moss  beds,  mimicking  the 
squirrels,  and — after  her  old  fashion — breaking  out 
from  time  to  time  into  scraps  of  song.  Now  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk's  ears  were  delighted  with  the  ringing  chorus : 

'  Wooed  and  married  and  a' — 

'  Wooed  and  married  and  a' ; 

'  Wasna  she  vera  weel  aff 

'  That  was  wooed,  and  married,  and  a'  ? 

Then  a  complete  hush  seemed  to  betoken  sudden  re- 
collection on  the  singer's  part  ;  that  was  quite  too 
private  and  confidential  a  matter  to  be  trilled  out  at  the 
top  of  one's  voice.  Presently  again,  slow  and  clear  like 
the  tinkle  of  a  streamlet  clown  the  rocks,  came  the  words 
of  Aileen  Asthore  : 

'  Even  the  way  winds 
'  Come  to  my  cave  and  sigh  ;  they  often  bring 

'  Rose  leaves  upon  their  wing, 

'  To  strew 
'  Over  my  earth,  and  leaves  of  violet  blue  ; 

1  In  sooth,  leaves  of  all  kinds.' 

It  was  a  very  sweet  kind  of  telegraphing  ;  but  the  two 
gentlemen,  deep  in  the  merits  of  a  burly  red  oak,  took 
no  notice  how  suddenly  the  song  broke  off,  nor  that 
none  other  came  after  it.  And  when  at  last  they  be 
thought  themselves  of  the  young  lady  truant,  and  stop 
ped  to  listen  where  she  might  be,  they  heard  a  murmur 
of  tongues  very  different  indeed  from  the  silvery  tones 
of  Wych  Hazel.  And  somewhat  hastily  retracing  their 
steps,  came  presently  into  distant  view  of  an  undoubted 
little  court,  holden  easily  in  the  woods. 


200  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Miss  Kennedy,  uplifted  on  a  grey  rock,  was  the 
centre  thereof,  and  around  her  some  six  or  eight  gentle- 
men paid  their  devoirs  in  most  courtier-like  fashion.  On 
the  moss  at  her  feet  lay  Mr.  Kingsland,  with  no  less  a 
companion  than  Mr.  Simms — black  whiskers,  white 
Venetian  collar  and  all.  Three  or  four  others,  whom 
Mr.  Falkirk  did  not  know,  were  lounging  and  laughing 
and  paying  attentions  of  unmistakable  reality ;  while 
Stuart  Nightingale,  who  had  come  up  on  horseback, 
stood  nearest  of  all,  leaning  against  the  rock,  his  hat  off, 
his  horse's  bridle  upon  his  arm. 

The  consequence  of  this  revelation  was  a  temporary 
suspension  of  woodcraft,  properly  so  called ;  another 
sort  of  craft,  it  may  possibly  have  occurred  to  the  actors 
therein,  coming  into  requisition.  Mr.  Falkirk  at  once 
went  forward  and  joined  the  group  around  the  rock. 
More  slowly  Rollo's  movements  also  in  time  brought 
him  there.  They  could  see,  as  they  came  nearer,  a  fine 
example  of  the  power  of  feminine  adaptation.  Was  this 
the  girl  to  whom  Mr.  Falkirk  had  discoursed  the  other 
night  ?  How  swiftly  and  easily  she  was  taking  her 
place  !  And  though  a  little  downcast  and  blushing  now 
and  then,  beneath  the  subtle  power  of  eyes  and  tongue, 
yet  evidently  all  the  while  gathering  up  the  reins  and 
learning  to  drive  her  four  in  hand.  Over  the  two  at  her 
feet  she  was  openingly  queening  it  already ;  over  the 
others — what  did  Wych  Hazel  see  concerning  them,  that 
curled  her  lips  in  their  soft  lines  of  mischief  ?  Some 
exquisite  hot-house  flowers  lay  in  her  lap,  and  a  delicate 
little  basket  by  her  side  held  strawberries — red,  white 
and  black — such  as  the  neglected  Chickaree  gardens 
had  never  seen. 

'Why,  there  is  your  venerable  guardian,  Miss  Keiv 


COURT   IN   THE    WOODS.  2O1 

nedy ! '  drawled  out  Mr.  Kingsland,  as  Mr.  Falkirk 
came  in  sight.  '  How  charming !  Patriarchal.  And 
who  is  that  beyond  ? — Dane  Rollo  ! — as  I  am  a  Chris- 
tian ! ' 

'  Evidently  then,  somebody  else,'  said  Mr.  May. 
'  Who  is  it,  Nightingale  ? ' 

But  Mr.  Nightingale  knew  his  business  better  than  to 
reply  ;  and  Dane  presently  spoke  for  himself.  It  was 
the  Dane  of  the  Mountain  House,  courteous  and  care- 
less ;  no  fellow  of  these  gentlemen,  nor  yet  at  all  like 
Mr.  Falkirk,  a  guard  upon  them.  Mr.  Falkirk's  brows 
had  unmistakeably  drawn  together  at  sight  of  the  new 
comers  ;  Rollo  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  group,  indiffer- 
ent and  at  ease,  after  his  wonted  fashion  in  general 
society. 

'  You  are  making  almost  your  first  acquaintance  with 
these  beautiful  woods  ?'  Stuart  remarked,  to  the  little 
mistress  of  them,  breaking  the  lull  that  Mr.  Falkirk's 
arrival  had  produced. 

'How  old  is  your  own,  sir  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  I — really,  I  don't  know — I  have  shot  here  a  little  ; 
before  you  came,  you  know  ;  when  it  was  all  waste 
ground.' 

'  I  remember  getting  lost  in  them  once,  when  I  was  a 
child  ; '  said  Wych  Hazel, — '  I  think  that  was  my  first 
acquaintance.  It  was  just  before  we  went  away.  And 
Mr.  Falkirk  found  me  and  carried  me  home.  Do  you 
remember,  sir  ? ' 

But  Mr.  Falkirk  was  oblivious  of  such  passages  of 
memory  in  the  present  company.  He  gave  no  token  of 
hearing.  Instead,  he  cruelly  asked  Mr.  Kingsland  how 
farming  got  on  this  summer  ?  And  Mr.  Kingsland,  by 
way  of  returning  good  for  evil,  gave  Mr.  Falkirk  a 


202  WYCH    HAZEL. 

shower  of  reports  and  statistics  which  might  have  been 
true— they  were  so  unhesitating.  Through  which  rain  of 
facts  Mr.  Falkirk  could  just  catch  the  sound  of  words 
from  Mr.  May,  the  sense  of  which  fell  upon  Miss  Ken- 
nedy's ear  alone.  Until  Rollo  at  her  side  broke  the 
course  of  things. 

'  I  beg  your  parclou  !  Miss  Kennedy,'  (in  an  aside)  '  I 
see  Primrose  and  her  father  coming.  Shall  I  stop 
them  ? ' 

'  Why,  of  course  ! '  she  said,  springing  to  her  feet, 
'  What  a  question  !  ' 

The  two  recumbent  gentlemen  rose  at  once. 

'  Do  you  always  wear  wildwood  tints,  Miss  Kennedy  ?' 
asked  Mr.  Simms,  looking  up  admiringly  at  the  slim 
figure.  '  I  thought  the  other  day  that  green  was  match- 
less, but  to-day — ' 

'  Yes,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  but  if  you  would  just  please 
stand  out  of  my  way  and  let  me  jump  down.  I  want 
to  see  Dr.  Maryland.' 

The  gentleman  laughed  and  retreated,  and  disregard- 
ing the  half  dozen  offered  hands,  Hazel  sprang  from 
her  rock  and  stood  out  a  step  or  two,  shading  her  eyes 
and  looking  down  the  woodland,  where  Rollo  had  dis- 
appeared to  meet  the  approaching  carriage.  The  thick- 
et was  so  close  just  here  that  the  carriage  road  though 
not  far  off  was  invisible.  Down  below  Rollo  had 
caught  a  glimpse  of  the  well  known  little  green  buggy 
creeping  up  the  hill ;  and  in  another  few  minutes  its  oc- 
cupants appeared  coming  through  the  trees.  Wych 
Hazel  had  hold  of  their  hands  almost  before  they  had 
sight  of  her. 

'I  thought  you  had  given  me  up,  Dr.  Maryland,'  she 
said,  '  and  were  never  coming  to  see  me  at  all  ! ' 


COURT   IN   THE   WOODS.  203 

'Two  days,'  said  the  Doctor  benignly, '  Two  fair  days 
my  dear,  since  we  took  breakfast  together.  I  have  not 
been  very  delinquent.  Though  it  seems  I  am  not  the 
first  here.  Good  morning,  Mr.  Kingsland  ! — how  do  you 
do,  Mr.  Burr  ? — how  do  you  do,  Mr.  Sutphen  ?  — Mr. 
May?  Are  you  holding  an  assembly  here,  my  dear?' 
And  by  that  time  Dr.  Maryland  had  worked  round  to 
Mr.  Falkirk,  and  the  hands  of  the  two  gentlemen  clos- 
ed in  an  earnest  prolonged  clasp  ;  after  the  approved 
method  gentlemen  have  of  expressing  their  estimation 
of  each  other. 

'Miss  Kennedy  is  pretty  sure  to  "hold''  whoever 
comes  near  her,  sir,'  said  Mr.  Burr. 

'  I  can  certify  that  the  "  assembly  "  is  quite  powerless, 
Doctor — if  it  will  be  any  relief  to  your  mint!,'  said  Mr. 
Kingsland.  While  Hazel,  with  Prim's  hand  in  hers,  was 
eagerly  speaking  her  pleasure. 

'  What  are  you  doing  ? '  said  Primrose  under  her  breath 
and  looking  in  some  astonishment  at  the  gathering. 

'  O,  nothing — talking, — they  wanted  to  know  how  I 
got  home,'  said  Wych,  an  amused  look  betraying  itself- 
Then  quitting  Primrose,  she  went  forward  a  little  to  re- 
ceive the  farewell  addresses  of  several  gentleman  who 
preferred  to  see  Miss  Kennedy  alone.  The  group  be- 
gan to  clear  away.  Prim's  eye  watched  her,  in  her 
graceful,  pretty  self-possession,  as  she  met  and  return- 
ed the  parting  salutation  ;  and  then  went  over  by  some 
instinct  to  where  another  eye  was  watching  her  too, 
with  a  contented  sparkle  in  its  intentness.  That 
was  only  a  second,  though.  Rollo  had  no  mind  to  have 
all  the  world  know  what  he  was  thinking  about  ;  and  even 
as  her  glance  found  him,  his  turned  away.  The  strangers 
being  at  last  disposed  of,  those  remaining  began  a  slow 


204  WYCH    HAZEL. 

procession  towards  the  house.     But  a  parting  word  of 
Mr.  Nightingale's  must  be  noted. 

'  Any  chance  for  a  ride  to  the  wood  to-morrow  ? '  he 
said,  with  tones  so  modulated  that  he  thought  his  words 
safe.  And  she  answered  : 

'  O,  my  horses  have  not  come.  There  will  be  little 
riding  for  me  yet  a  while. 

'  And  these  are  the  Chickaree  woods  ? '  said  Dr.  Mary- 
land, as  they  walked  on.  '  How  beautiful  they  are  ! 
Are  you  very  happy,  Hazel,  in  the  hope  of  being  the  mis- 
tress of  all  this  ? ' 

'  Why  I  thought — I  call  myself  the  mistress  now,  sir. 
Is  it  an  uncertainty  dependent  on  my  good  behaviour? ' 
she  said  with  a  laugh. 

'  You  know  you  are  not  of  age,  my  dear  ;  but  I  sup- 
pose Mr.  Falkirk  gives  you  all  the  essentials  of  domin- 
ion. Do  you  feel  at  home  yet  ? ' 

'  Very  much !  You  know,  sir,  I  have  just  a  little  re 
membrance  of  the  old  time — when  mamma  was  here — • 
to  begin  with.  But  how  heedless  I  am  ! '  she  said, 
abruptly  putting  the  little  basket  which  had  been 
swinging  from  her  hand  into  the  hands  of  Dr. 
Maryland.  'There,  sir, — will  you  take  some  refresh- 
ment by  the  way  ? '  Then  turning  to  Primrose,  Miss 
Kennedy  laid  the  fragrant  weight  of  hot-house  flowers 
upon  her. 

'  Are  these  from  your  garden  ? '  said  Primrose,  some- 
what bewildered.  While  Dr.  Maryland,  putting  his  fin- 
gers without  scruple  in  among  the  black  and  white  straw- 
berries, asked  in  an  approving  tone  of  voice :  '  Have 
you  been  picking  these  yourself,  my  dear  ? ' 

'  I — picked  them  up,  sir,'  said  Hazel  with  the  laugh 
in  her  voice.  '  Not  off  the  vines,  however.  They  are 


COURT    IN    THE   WOODS. 


205 


hothouse  flowers,'  she  answered  to  Primrose.     '  When 
my  houses  are  in  order  you  shall  have  them  every  day.' 

'  They  are  very  good,'  said  Dr.  Maryland  gravely,  eat 
ing  away.  '  Where  did  you  get  them,  my  dear  ? ' 

'  Mr.  May  brought  them,  sir,'  said  the  girl,  looking 
down  now,  and  walking  straight  on. 

'  Mr.  May  !  '  echoed  Dr.  Maryland.  '  How  comes  Mr. 
May  to  be  bringing  you  strawberries?  And  those 
flowers  too  ? '  glancing  over  at  Primrose's  full  hands. 

'No,  sir,  Mr.  Burr  brought  the  flowers.' 

'  You  are  a  fearful  man  for  asking  questions,  sir, 
said  Rollo,  with  a  flash  of  fun  in  his  face. 

'  Questions? '  said  the  doctor,  picking  out  the  black 
strawberries  abstractedly, — '  I've  a  right  to  ask  lu'i 
questions.  The  strawberries  are  good ! — but  1  wish 
Mr.  May  had  not  brought  them.' 

'So  would  he,  if  he  knew  you  were  eating  them, 
sir.' 

'I've  eaten  enough  of  them,'  said  Dr.  Maryland, 
seeming  to  recollect  himself.  '  They  arc  verv  good  ; 
they  are  the  finest  strawberries  I  have  seen.'  And  he 
handed  the  basket  to  Mr.  Falkirk,  who  immediately 
passed  it  over  to  Rollo.  Rollo  balanced  the  basket  on 
his  fingers  and  carried  it  so,  but  put  never  a  ringer  in- 
side. 

'  I  am  afraid  your  head  will  be  turned,  Hazel,  my 
dear,'  said  Dr.  Maryland,  '  if  the  adulation  has  begun 
so  soon.  What  will  you  do  when  you  are  a  little  better 
known  ? ' 

'Ah!  '  said  Hazel,  with  an  indescribable  intonation, 
'ask  Mr.  Falkirk  that,  Dr.  Maryland.  Poor  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk !  he  is  learning  every  day  of  his  life  what  it  is  to 
know  me  "  a  little  better  ! '' ' 


206  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'I  can  imagine  that,'  said  Dr.  Maryland,  quite 
gravely  '  My  dear,  what  a  beautiful  old  house  you 
have ! ' 

The  June  day,  howe/er,  was  so  alluring  that  they 
could  not  make  up  their  minds  to  go  inside.  On  the 
basket  chairs  in  the  low  verandah  they  sat  down,  and 
looked  and  talked.  Primrose  did  not  talk  much — she 
was  quiet ;  nor  Mr.  Falkirk — he  was  taciturn  ;  the 
burden  of  talk  was  chiefly  borne  by  Wych  Hazel  and 
the  doctor.  In  a  genial,  enjoying,  sympathising  mood, 
Dr.  Maryland  came  out  in  a  way  uncommon  for  him  ! 
asked  questions  about  the  woods,  the  property,  the  old 
house  ;  and  delighted  himself  in  the  beauty  that  was 
abroad  in  earth  and  sky. 

'  My  dear,'  he  said  at  last  to  Wych  Hazel,  '  you  have 
all  that  this  world  can  give  you.  What  are  you  going 
to  do  with  it  ? ' 

'  Have  I  ? '  she  said,  rather  wistfully.  '  I  thought  I 
was  looking  for  something  more.  What  could  I  do 
with  it,  sir  ?  You  know  Mr.  Falkirk  manages  every- 
thing as  well  as  can  be,  now.' 

'  Are  you  looking  for  something  more  ? '  said  Dr. 
Maryland,  tenderly.  '  What  more  are  you  looking  for, 
Hazel?' 

'  Suppose  I  should  tell  you  I  do  not  quite  know,  my- 
self, sir  ? : 

'  I  should  say,  my  dear,  the  best  thing  would  be  to 
find  out.' 

'  I  shall  know  when  I  find  it,'  said  the  girl.  '  If  I 
find  it.' 

'  "  To  him  that  hath  shall  be  given  !  "  One  of  the 
best  ways,  Hazel,  to  find  more  is  to  make  the  best  use 
of  what  we  have.' 


COURT    IN    THE   WOODS.  207 

The  girl  left  her  seat,  and  kneeling  down  by  Dr. 
Maryland,  laid  her  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

'I  mean, 'she  said,  dropping  her  voice  so  that  only 
the  doctor  could  hear,  '  not  more  of  what  people  call 
much  ;  but  something,  where  I  have  nothing.  To  be- 
long to  somebody — to  have  somebody  belong  to  me.' 

'Ah,  my  dear,'  said  the  doctor,  wistfully,  'I  am 
afraid  Primrose  wouldn't  do.' 

'  I  have  wanted  her  ever  since  she  took  me  in  out  of 
the  rain,  and  did  not  wonder  how  I  got  wet,'  said  Haxel 
laughing  but  dropping  her  voice  again. 

•  If  you  had  her,  my  dear,  you  would  then  want  some- 
thing or  somebody  else.' 

'Maybe  you  do  not  understand  me,  sir,' she  said,  a 
little  eager  to  be  understood,  and  pouring  out  confiden- 
ces in  a  way  as  rare  with  her  as  it  was  complimentary 
to  her  hearer.  '  I  am  not  complaining  of  anybody.  I 
know  Mr.  Falkirk  is  very  fond  of  me — but  he  likes  to 
keep  me  off  at  a  respectful  distance.  Only  a  few  nights 
ago,  I  was  feeling  particularly  good,  for  me,  and  rather 
lonely,  and  I  just  asked  him  to  kiss  me  for  good  night  — 
and  it  made  him  so  glum  that  he  has  hardly  opened  his 
lips  to  me  ever  since  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel  in  an  aggrieved 
voice. 

'  Perhaps  Mr.  Falkirk  has  something  upon  his  mind, 
my  dear!'  said  Dr.  Maryland,  with  raised  eyebrows 
and  an  uncommon  expression  of  /////  playing  about  the 
lines  of  his  mouth.  '  It  is  not  always  safe  to  conclude 
that  coincident  facts  have  a  relation  of  cause  and  effect.' 

'  No — '  said  the  girl,  '  I  suppose  not.  But  I  stood 
there  all  by  myself  and  heard  him  turn  the  keys  and 
rattle  the  bolts — and  then  I  ran  upstairs  to  find  Mrs. 
Bywank, — and  of  course  she  couldn't  speak  for  a  tooth- 


208  WYCH    HAZEL. 

ache.  And  then  I  felt  as  if  there  was  nobody  in  all  the 
world — in  all  my  world — but  me  ! ' 

Dr.  Maryland  looked  tenderly  upon  the  young  girl 
beside  him,  yet  uncomprehendingly.  Probably  his 
peculiar  masculine  nature  furnished  him  with  no  clue  to 
her  essentially  feminine  views  of  things. 

'  I  dare  say,  my  dear,'  he  said, — '  I  dare  say  !  The 
best -cure  for  such  a  state  of  feeling  that  I  know,  would 
be  to  begin  living  for  other  people.  You  will  find  the 
world  grow  populous  very  soon.  And  one  other  cure,' 
— he  added,  his  eye  going  away  from  Wych  Hazel  into 
an  abstracted  gaze  towards  the  outer  world  ; — '  when 
you  can  say,  "  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  Thee  ?  and 
there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  beside  Thee."  ' 

The  little  hand  upon  his  shoulder  stirred, — was  lifted, 
and  laid  down  again.  Somehow  she  comprehended  him 
better  than  he  did  her.  Then  with  a  sudden  motion 
Hazel  took  off  a  luminous  bracelet — one  of  the  three 
she  always  wore,  and  laid  it  across  Dr.  Maryland's 
hand. 

'Did  mamma  ever  shew  you  that,  sir?'  she  said. 
'  She  had  it  made  just  for  me.  And  then  my  wrist  was 
so  small  that  it  would  go  twice  round.' 

It  was  a  string  of  twelve  stones,  all  different,  all  cut 
and  set  alike  ;  each  long  parallelogram  fitting  rather 
closely  to  the  next  on  either  side ;  the  hues — opaque, 
translucent,  clouded — flashed  and  gleamed  with  every 
imaginable  variation  of  colour  and  shade.  The  doctor 
looked  at  it  in  silence.  Then  spoke. 

'What  did  she  mean  by  it,  Hazel,  my  dear?  I  do 
not  catch  the  interpretation.' 

She  turned  it  a  little  in  his  hand,  until  the  light  fell 
on  the  gold  framing  beneath  the  gems,  and  Dr.  Mary- 


WYCH    HAZEL.  209 

land  could  read  the  fine  graven  tracery  : — "  The  first, 
a  jasper." 

'  Ah  !  '  he  exclaimed  with  new  interest,  '  I  see.'  And 
he  took  up  the  chain  of  stones  and  turned  it  over  and 
over,  rather  passed  it  through  his  fingers  like  a  rosary, 
studying  the  stones  and  murmuring  the  names  of 
them. 

'  "  The  wall  of  the  city  had  twelve  foundations,"  '  he 
said  at  last,  giving  the  chain  back,  with  a  look  of  light 
and  love  combined  ;  '  "  and  in  the  wall  were  twelve 
gates,  and  each  several  gate  was  one  pearl ;  and  the 
streets  were  gold,  like  unto  transparent  glass,  and  no- 
thing that  defileth  shall  by  any  means  enter  there,  but 
those  that  are  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb."  I 
like  that,  my  dear.' 

His  look  made  all  the  application  his  words  did  not. 
Presently  he  rose  up  and  asked  Wych  Ha/el  if  he  might 
go  into  her  library?  A  book  was  there,  h»  thought, 
that  he  wanted  to  look  at.  Hazel  guided  him  in,  but 
then  he  dismissed  her  and  she  went  back  to  Primrose 
on  the  verandah.  Slowly  back, — softly  fingering  her 
bright  stones,  soberly  thinking  to  herself  the  motto  upon 
the  clasp  : — "In  hope  of  eternal  life." 

'  What  were  you  talking  to  papa  about  ? '  said  Prim- 
rose, putting  a  loving  hand  into  Wych  Hazel's.  The' 
two  other  gentlemen  were  speaking  together  at  a  little 
distance.  '  I  thought  you  looked  troubled  ;  but  I  could 
not  hear,  for  Duke  was  talking  to  me.' 

'Dr.  Maryland  should  have  been  the  troubled  one, 
part  of  the  time,'  said  Hazel,  bringing  her  other  hand 
upon  Prim's,  'for  I  asked  him  to  give  you  to  me.' 

'  What  would  become  of  him  and  Duke?'  said  Prim- 
rose smiling. 


210  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Really,  Mr.  Rollo  did  not  enter  into  my  calcula- 
tions ! '  said  Wych  Hazel,  coming  back  with  a  rebound 
into  her  everyday  self.  '  Does  he  require  much  time  and 
care  bestowed  upon  him  ? ' 

'  Don't  you  think  all  men  do  ? ' 

'  I  do  not  know  all  men,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Mr. 
Falkirk  does  not  get  it.  But  does  Mr.  Rollo  live  at 
your  house  ? ' 

'  Why  of  course,  when  he's  here.  He  always  did,  you 
know.  And  O,  Duke  helps  me.  It  is  twice  as  easy  to 
take  care  of  papa,  when  I  have  him  in  the  house,  too. 
But  Hazel,  I  am  going  to  get  you  to  help  me, — in  an- 
other way — if  I  can.' 

'What  way? '  said  Hazel.  'Then  if  Mr.  Rollo  is  so 
helpful,  he  might  take  care  of  Dr.  Maryland  altogether, 
and  you  could  come  to  take  care  of  me.' 

Primrose  laughed. 

'O  men  cannot  get  along  as  women  can — don't  you 
know  that  ? '  she  said.  '  No,  I  want  you  for  my  Sunday 
school.  What's  the  matter  ? ' 

These  last  words  were  caused  by  a  diversion  of  the 
speaker's  thoughts.  For  she  had  noticed,  while  speak- 
ing, that  a  man  had  come  in  haste  to  the  place  where 
the  two  gentlemen  were  standing ;  and  that  after  a  very 
few  words  Mr.  Falkirk  had  thrown  on  his  hat  and  gone 
down  the  grassy  slope  with  the  messenger  ;  while  Rollo 
had  turned  as  suddenly  and  was  coming  towards 
them. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SELF-CONTROL. 

ROLLO  came  up  with  the  grave,  business  look  of 
one  who  has  serious  matters  on  hand. 

'A  messenger  has  come,'  he  said,  speaking  to  Wych 
Hazel,  '  to  say  that  one  of  the  men  has  met  with  an 
accident.' 

He  could  see  how  the  shock  struck  her,  but  she  made 
no  exclamation,  only  her  hands  met  in  a  tight  clasp  as 
they  had  done  in  the  woods'  fire.  She  faced  him  silent- 
ly, waiting  more  words. 

'  I  don't  know  yet  how  bad  it  is.  I  am  going  to  see  ; 
and  I  will  come  back  to  you  by  and  by.' 

'  Where  ? — and  who  ?'  she  asked. 

'  In  the  wood-cutting.  It  is  Reo.'  He  spoke  as  a 
man  who  speaks  unwillingly. 

Hazel  gave  a  little  cry  at  that,  and  turning  suddenly 
flew  into  the  house.  The  next  thing  was  the  flutter  of 
her  light  foot  outside  among  the  trees.  But,  overtaken 
the  next  minute,  she  was  stopped  by  a  hand  on  her  arm 
and  held  fast.  However  Dane  spoke  very  gently 

'  Miss  Hazel — you  had  better  not  go  yourself.' 

'I  am  going,'  she  said,  struggling  to  disengage  herself. 
'  Mr.  Rollo  !— ' 


212  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Stop/  he  said  gently  and  steadily.  '  Miss  Hazel — 
I  shall  not  let  you  go.' 

In  her  excitement  she  hardly  took  in  more  than  the 
mere  fact  of  his  words,  and  dropping  everything  she  had 
in  her  hand,  Hazel  took  hold  of  his  fingers  and  began 
to  loosen  them  with  her  own,  which  had  a  good  deal 
of  will  in  them,  if  they  were  small.  The  immediate 
effect  was  to  secure  the  imprisonment  of  both  her  hands 
in  a  clasp  that  was  stronger  than  her's.  I  hardly  think 
Rollo  disliked  it,  for  he  smiled  a  little  as  he  spoke  : 

'  Listen,'  he  said, — '  Miss  Hazel,  I  shall  not  let  you 
go  down  yonder.  I  will  bring  you  news  as  soon  as  I 
can — but  you  must  stay  here  with  Rosy.  Don't  you 
see  ? '  he  added  very  gently,  as  he  turned  about  and 
walked  toward  the  house  with  her,  putting  one  little  hand 
on  his  arm  while  other  hand  still  held  it  fast, — don't  you 
see,  you  could  do  nothing  just  yet  ?  And  I  take  this 
upon  myself — I  shall  not  let  you  go.  You  must  stay 
here  and  take  care  of  Rosy,  till  I  can  come  back  to  you.' 

'  I  will  not,'  she  said,  stopping  short  again.  '  I  will 
go  !  It  is  my  right !  Where  should  a  woman  be  ? 
And — Oh ! '  she  cried  with  a  change  of  tone,  '  it  is 
Reo ! — And  he  will  want  things —  and  he  will  want 
me !' 

'  Not  yet,'  said  Rollo ;  'it  is  not  time  for  either  yet. 
He  shall  want  nothing,  I  promise  you,  that  he  ought  to 
have.  But  you  must  be  good  and  stay  with  Rosy.' 

He  spoke  as  a  brother  might  speak  to  a  little  sister 
of  whom  he  was  very  fond,  or — brothers  do  not  often 
take  just  that  tone.  Primrose,  looking  on,  knew  very 
well  what  it  meant.  Wych  Hazel  was  in  far  too  much 
commotion  of  mind  to  discern  anything.  She  had 
yielded  to  superior  strength, — which  indeed  she  could 


COURT   IN   THE   WOODS.  213 

not  gracefully  resist ;  and  then  there  came  over  her 
heart  such  a  flood  of  grief,  that  for  the  last  few  steps 
she  was  quite  passive  ;  though  giving  no  sign  but  the 
quiver  that  touched  her  mouth,  and  went  and  came 
again.  But  at  Rollo's  last  words  she  drew  herself  up 
defiantly. 

'  Do  you  expect  to  stand  here  and  hold  me  all  day  ? ' 
she  said. 

'  No,'  he  said  gravely,  now  meeting  her  look, — '  I 
expect  you  to  have  self-control  and  womanly  patience, 
and  to  let  me  go  and  do  my  part,  until  it  is  time  for  you 
to  do  yours.  Will  you  ? ' 

'  I  shall  do  what  I  think  best.  The  question  is  none 
of  yours,  Mr.  Rollo.  Self-control ! — I  have  a  little  ! ' 
she  said  under,  her  breath. 

'  Do  you  mean  to  keep  me  here,'  he  said  gravely  and 
quietly,  '  when  I  may  be  so  much  wanted  elsewhere  ? 
You  would  be  in  the  way  there,  but  I  am  needed. 
Still,  you  are  my  first  care.  Must  I  stay  here  to  take 
care  of  you  ?  or  will  you  promise  me  to  be  good  and 
wait  quietly  with  Primrose,  until  I  bring  you  word.' 

His  eye  went  to  Primrose  as  he  ended,  in  a  mute 
appeal  for  help.  And  Prim  came  near  and  laid  her 
hand  softly  on  Wych  Hazel's  shoulder. 

'  Do,  deai  Hazel ! '  she  said.  '  Duke  knows  ;  you 
may  trust  him.' 

It  was  indescribable  the  way  she  freed  herself  from 
them  both,  as  if  to  be  touched,  now,  was  beyond  the 
bounds  of  endurance.  Prim's  words  Hazel  utterly 
ignored,  but  something  in  the  other's  claimed  attention. 

'  Go  !  go  ! ' — she  said  hurriedly.  '  Go  and  do  your 
part  i — If  you  had  been  content  with  doing  that  at  first, 
we  should  have  had  no  trouble.'  She  wrapped  het 


214  WYCH    HAZEL. 

arms  round  one  of  the  light  verandah  pillars,  and  lean- 
ing her  head  against  it  gave  look  nor  word  more. 

Rollo  staid  for  none,  but  dashed  away  down  the 
slope  and  was  lost  in  the  woods.  Primrose  stood  near 
Wych  Hazel,  very  much  at  a  loss  indeed ;  but  too 
troubled  to  be  still. 

'  Dear  Hazel ! '  she  ventured,  in  a  very  soft  voice — 
'  don't  feel  so  !  What  is  the  matter  ? ' 

'  Did  you  not  hear  ? ' 

'  Yes  ;  but  Hazel  dear,  you  know  hardly  anything 
yet ;  there  may  be  very  little  to  be  troubled  about. 
The  accident  may  be  very  slight,  for  all  you  know.  I 
always  think  it  is  best  to  wait  and  see  ;  and  then  have 
your  strength  ready  to  work  with.' 

'  My  strength  has  been  extremely  useful  to-day.' 

'  What  do  you  mean,  dear  ? '  said  Primrose,  softly 
endeavoring  to  coax  the  hands  and  arms  away  from 
the  verandah  pillar.  '  Look  here — look  up  and  be 
yourself  again.  Maybe  there  is  very  little  the  matter. 
Wait  and  see. ' 

'  Wait ! ' — Hazel  repeated.  '  People  talk  as  if  wait- 
ing was  such  easy  work  ! ' 

'  I  never  said  it  was  easy,'  said  Primrose  gently. 
'  But  some  people  have  to  wait  all  their  lives.'  There 
was  the  very  essence  of  patience  in  the  intonation. 

'  I  should  think  their  lives  would  be  short.' 

Primrose  sighed  a  little  and  was  silent.  Perhaps 
she  thought  that  those  who  had  little  occasion  to  prac- 
tise the  grace  were  unreasonable.  But  I  think  she 
only  remembered  that  the  one  near  her  was  very  un- 
practised. 

'  Forgive  me — I  do  not  mean  to — be — '  the  girl  fal- 
tered out,  the  tremor  coming  back  to  her  voice.  '  But 


SELF   CONTROL.  215 

Reo  ! — '  And  with  that,  pain  and  disappointment  and 
chagrin  joined  forces  ;  and  quitting  her  pillar,  Hazel 
dropped  down  by  one  of  the  great  wicker  chairs,  and 
laying  her  head  there  burst  into  a  passion  of  weeping 
that  almost  made  Primrose  wish  for  the  hard-edged 
calm  again. 

So  she  stood  passively  by  until  the  storm  was  spent ; 
and  Dr.  Maryland  having  satisfied  his  book  quest, 
came  out  again,  awakening  to  the  fact  that  it  was  time 
he  and  Primrose  were  jogging  homeward.  Primrose 
took  him  aside  and  explained  the  situation  of  affairs, 
after  which  Dr.  Maryland,  too,  forthwith  betook  himself 
down  the  slope  in  the  direction  where  Mr.  Falkirk  and 
Rollo  had  disappeared.  After  a  little  interval  of  furthei 
suspense  he  was  seen  coming  back  again.  He  reported 
that  Reo  was  not  much  hurt  ;  had  been  a  good  deal 
bruised,  and  the  accident  had  threatened  to  be  serious  ; 
but  after  all  no  great  harm  was  done.  Primrose  never- 
theless begged  that  her  father  would  go  home  without 
her  ;  she  could  come  with  Duke,  she  said. 

Dr.  Maryland's  wagon  had  not  been  brought  round, 
however,  when  a  very  different  vehicle  appeared,  climb- 
ing the  steep ;  and  Primrose  proclaimed  that  Mrs. 
Powder  was  at  hand.  The  carriage  drew  up  before  the 
verandah,  and  from  it  descended  the  ex-Governor's 
lady,  and  two  young  ones- — Miss  Annabella  and  another. 
Mrs.  Powder  was  a  stately  lady,  large  and  dignified ; — 
those  two  things  do  not  always  go  together,  but  they 
did  in  her  case.  She  was  extremely  gracious  to  all  the 
members  of  the  little  group  she  found  gathered  to  re- 
ceive her.  Then,  as  Dr.  Maryland  was  going,  she  sat 
down  to  talk  to  him  about  some  business  which  engaged 
her.  So  the  two  older  persons  were  a  little  removed 


2l6  WYCH   HAZEL. 

from  the  rest.  Miss  Annabella  did  nothing  but  look 
handsome  and  calm,  after  her  wont ;  but  her  younger 
sister  was  of  different  mettle. 

'  And  so  this  is  Chickaree  ? '  she  said,  gazing  up  and 
down  and  about,  at  the  old  house  and  its  surroundings. 
What  a  delightful  old  place  !  And  are  you  the  mis- 
tress of  it,  really — without  being  married,  you  know  ? 
How  splendid  !  I  always  think  that's  the  worst  of  being 
married — you  lose  your  liberty,  you  know,  and  there's 
always  somebody  to  bother  you  ;  but  to  have  a  grand 
place,  and  house,  and  all  that,  and  to  be  mistress,  and 
have  no  master! — I  declare,'  Miss  Josephine  cried, 
throwing  up  hands  and  eyes,  '  it's  as  good  as  a  fairy 
tale.  And  much  better,  for  it  don't  all  vanish  in  smoke 
in  a  minute.  Oh,  don't  you  feel  like  a  fairy  princess  in 
the  midst  of  all  your  magnificence  ?  You  look  like  it, 
too  ! '  added  the  young  lady,  surveying  the  person  of  her 
hostess.  '  Ain't  you  proud  ? ' 

Hazel's  spent  and  past  excitement  had  left  her  rather 
pale  and  grave,  so  that  she  was  doing  the  honours  with 
an  extra  touch  of  stateliness.  Self-control  was  trying  its 
best  now,  for  she  had  not  the  least  mind  that  anybody 
should  know  it  had  ever  been  shaken.  So  she  ordered 
lunch  to  be  served  out  there  on  the  verandah,  and  made 
Dr.  Maryland  wait  for  it,  and  talked  to  Miss  Annabella; 
and  now  gave  Miss  Josephine  a  cool  '  Proud !  Is  that 
what  you  call  it  ? '  which  left  nothing  to  be  desired. 

'  I  thought  they  said  she  was  so  brilliant  ? '  remarked 
Miss  Annabella,  in  an  aside  to  Primrose.  '  But  I  sup- 
pose that  is  with  gentlemen.' 

'What  do  you  call  it?'  the  younger  Miss  Powder 
went  on.  '/should  be  proud — awfully — if  I  had  such 
a  house  and  all.  I'd  take  my  time  about  being  married. 


SELF-CONTROL.  217 

Wouldn't  you  ?  Don't  you  think  it  is  best  to  put  off 
being  married  as  long  as  you  can  ? — not  till  it's  too  late, 
you  know.  The  fun's  all  over  then — don't  you  think  so  ? 
— except  the  house,  and  carriage,  and  establishment, 
and  giving  entertainments,  and  all  that.  And  you  have 
got  it  all  already.  Oh,  I  should  think  you  would  make 
the  men  dance  round  ? ' 

Wych  Hazel  had  followed  this  rush  of  new  ideas  with 
a  degree  of  amazement,  which,  before  she  knew,  cul- 
minated in  a  merry  laugh.  But  she  was  grave  again  im- 
mediately. 

4  Should  you  ? '  she  said.     '  How  do  you  do  it  ? ' 

'Don't  you  know  how  ?  '  said  the  other  girl,  with  an 
expression  of  insinuation,  fun  and  daring  which  it  is 
difficult  to  give  on  paper.  She  was  a  pretty,  bright  girl, 
too.  The  question  would  have  been  impudent  if  it  had 
not  been  comical.  '  I  know  you  do  ! '  she  went  on. 
'  You've  got  a  good  battery.  I'd  like  to  see  you  do  it.  I 
always  do.  It's  such  fun  !  All  men  are  good  for,'  she 
exclaimed  next,  with  a  curl  on  her  lip,  '  except  to  carry 
one's  parasol  and  things.  Uo  you  know  Kitty  Fisher  ?  ' 

'  Not  even  by  name,'  said  Miss  Kennedy,  studying 
her  guest  as  an  entirely  new  species. 

'  She's  a  splendid  girl.  She's  coming  to  Moscheloo 
next  week ;  there'll  be  goings  on  then.  People  are  so 
stupid  here  in  the  country,  they  want  somebody  to  wake 
them  up.  Kitty's  awfully  jolly.  Oh,  what  a  lovely  old 
house !  Take  me  in  and  let  me  see  it,  won't  you  ?  Oh, 
what  a  lovely  hall !  What  a  place  for  a  German  !  Oh, 
you'll  give  a  German,  won't  you? ' 

'  I  do  not  know  what  I  shall  give,  yet,  Miss  Powder.' 

'  I'm  not  Miss  Powder  !  Annabella  wouldn't  thank 
you.  She'd  like  me  to  be  Miss  Powder,  though.  Tell 


2l8  WYCH    HAZEL. 

me  ;  don't  you  think  people  could  get  along  just  as  well 
if  they  weren't  married  ?  Now  there's  my  mother  wants 
to  marry  us  off  as  quick  as  she  can  ;  and  every  other 
girl's  mother  is  just  the  same.  What  do  they  do  it  for  ? 
Oh,  you've  got  a  dreadful  old  guardian,  haven't  you  ? 
Does  he  want  you  to  get  married  ?  Ain't  it  hateful  to 
have  a  guardian  ?  I  should  think  it  would  be  awfully 
poky.' 

'  Did  you  never  see  Mr.  Falkirk  ? '  said  Hazel  gravely. 
Somehow  this  girl's  talk  made  her  extremely  reticent. 
But  that  made  little  difference  to  Miss  "  Phinny."  The 
next  question  was  : 

'  Do  you  know  Stephen  Kingsland  ? ' 

'  Yes,' 

'  Don't  you  admire  him  ?  Ain't  he  a  catch,  for  some 
body!  But  you  know  Stuart  Nightingale,  don't  you? ' 

Again  Miss  Kennedy  said  yes. 

<  Like  him  ? ' 

'  Do  you  ? '  said  Hazel. 

'  I  think  he's  splendid  !  He's  so  amusing  ;  and  he's 
a  splendid  dancer.  It's  fun  to  dance  with  Stuart  Night- 
ingale. I  don't  very  often  get  him,  though.  But  you 
didn't  answer  me — do  you  like  him  ? ' 

'  I  am  not  much  in  the  habit  of  answering  people,' 
said  Hazel  frankly.  '  You  will  find  that  out  if  you  see 
enough  of  me.' 

'  Ain't  you  ?  Why  ? '  asked  the  young  lady  ingenu- 
ously. 

'  Because  I  do  not  like  to  be  questioned.  You  per- 
ceive no  fault  can  be  found  with  my  reasons,'  she  added 
with  a  smile. 

'Then  you  do  like  him,  I  know.  People  are  never 
afraid  to  tell  their  dislikes.  Why  ! — is  that ' — 


SELF-CONTROL.  219 

A  broken-off  inquiry  here  was  never  finished,  the 
answer  to  it  in  fact  being  furnished  by  the  coming  near 
of  Rollo  whose  distant  appearance  had  first  suggested 
it.  He  came  up  on  the  verandah,  shook  hands  with 
Mrs.  Powder,  but  gave  the  other  ladies  one  of  what 
Wych  Hazel  used  to  know,  as  his  Spanish  greetings  ; 
courteous  and  distant  equally.  Dr.  Maryland  had 
before  this  finished  his  colloquy  with  the  ex-Governor's 
lady  and  departed.  Rollo  now  took  his  place  and 
talked  to  Mrs.  Powder,  while  for  a  few  minutes  Anna- 
bella  used  her  eyes,  as  much  as  she  could,  and  Miss 
Phinny  ceased  to  use  her  tongue. 

Wych  Hazel  never  knew  by  what  instinct  she  worked 
her  way  through  that  first  bit  of  time.  Eager  for  more 
tidings,  sure  that  her  eagerness  must  not  appear,  she 
held  her  breath  for  one  minute — then  rose  up  cool  and 
quiet,  the  young  mistress  of  Chickaree. 

'Yes,'  she  said,  answering  Phinny's  half  spoken 
words,  '  it  is  Mr.  Rollo.  And  of  course  he  has  had  no 
luncheon.' 

She  summoned  Dingee  with  a  blast  of  her  silver 
whistle  (there  were  few  bells  at  Chickaree)  ordered  up 
hot  chocolate  and  fresh  tea  and  relays  of  fruit  and 
cream ;  and  herself  stepped  forward  to  see  them 
served. 

'  There  are  croquettes,  Mr.  Rollo,'  she  said, — '  and 
Dingee  will  bring  you  cold  beef.  And  with  what  may  I 
fill  your  cup  ? ' 

Primrose,  through  her  scattering  talk  with  Miss  An- 
nabella,  watched,  as  she  could,  these  two  people  who 
were  so  strange  to  her  simplicity.  Here  was  Wych 
Hazel,  a  little  while  ago  on  the  floor  in  a  passion  of 
tears ;  now,  calm,  self-possessed,  and  graceful.  Prim- 


220  WYCH    HAZEL. 

rose  had  been  very  uncertain  how  she  would  meet 
Rollo  the  next  time ;  with  a  kind  of  wonder  she  heard 
her  friendly  offer  of  chocolate  and  observed  Rollo's  per- 
fectly cool  and  matter-of-course  acceptance  of  it  from  her 
hands.  It  was  something  beyond  Primrose.  She  wait- 
ed to  see  how  it  would  be  when  Mrs.  Powder  went  away. 
But  a  great  many  thoughts  went  in  among  the  sugar 
that  Primrose  never  guessed.  Wych  Hazel  was  anx- 
iously waiting  to  have  the  good  report  about  Reo  con- 
firmed, and  would  not  shew  her  anxiety.  But  what  did 
Prim  mean  by  people's  waiting  all  their  lives  ?  What 
did  they  wait  for  ?  Well,  these  two  people  needn't  wait 
any  longer  for  a  meeting — that  was  one  thing.  That 
affair  was  well  off  her  hands.  Why  hadn't  Mr.  Falkirk 
returned  too  ? — Staying  with  Reo,  perhaps,  until  she 
'came,  and  she  could  not  go,  and  could  not  ask.  And 
now,  of  course,  the  Powders  would  just  stay  on,  supple- 
menting their  lunch  to  bear  Mr.  Rollo  company.  Per- 
haps, though,  it  was  just  as  well  they  were  here  when  he 
came.  Because  she  knew  she  ought  to  be  furiously 
angry  with  him,  and  somehow  that  was  never  a  role  she 
could  play.  Before  excitement  reached  that  point,  she 
always  got  hurt,  or  troubled,  or  timid — and  just  now  she 
was  too  tired.  If  he  told  her  to  sit  there  and  count  her 
fingers,  she  should  hardly  have  spirit  to  resist.  How 
ever  had  he  dared  to  take  hold  of  said  fingers  as  he  had 
done  ! — and  with  that  came  a  sudden  rush  to  Miss  Ken- 
nedy's cheeks  which  made  her  wish  she  could  go  for 
hot  chocolate  instead  of  Dingee.  He  had  hindered  her 
by  sheer  force.  Gentle  force, — and  gentlemanlike, — 
but  none  the  less  true  to  its  name.  There  was  one  of 
the  peculiar  advantages  of  being  a  woman  !  Or  a  girl. 
She  should  be  stronger  in  full  womanhood.  But  oh, 


SELF-CONTROL.  221 

she  was  woman  enough  to  take  care  of  Reo ! — and  if 
Reo  were  dying,  and  Mr.  Rollo  did  not  want  to  have 
her  go,  he  would  sit  calmly  there  and  want  more  choco- 
late ! — She  glanced  at  him  from  under  the  long  eye- 
lashes, and  another  flush  (of  impatience  this  time)  tinged 
her  cheeks.  But  she  did  not  stint  him  in  sugar,  nor 
make  any  mistakes  with  the  cream.  Then  her  eyes 
went  away  over  the  long  slope,  where  birds  and  sun- 
shine held  their  revels.  Wait  ? — what  did  people  wait 
for,  '  all  their  lives  ? '  And  why  did  Dr.  Maryland's  last 
words  come  up  to  her  again  ?  And  why  did  the  afore- 
said eyelashes  grow  wet  ?  She  was  all  shaken  out  of 
herself  by  the  morning's  work.  She  would  send  Dingee 
to  inquire  ! — and  not  wait.  But  then  if  this  strange  man 
should  order  him  back — and  Dingee  could  not  be  relied 
on  to  go  silently.  No,  she  could  not  have  a  scene 
before  all  these  people.  And  a  wee  bit  of  a  sigh,  well 
kept  in  hand,  went  to  the  compounding  of  Miss  Phinny's 
third  cup.  '  Womanly  patience  ? ' — how  was  hers  to  be 
grown,  yet  ?  And  what  did  he  know  about  it,  any  way  ? 
She  should  like  to  see  him  thoroughly  thwarted,  for 
once,  and  see  how  much  manly  patience  he  had  on  hand. 
And  another  swift  glance  went  his  way ;  but  with  anxiety 
rousing  up  again,  the  glance  lingered,  and  was  more  in- 
quiring than  she  meant  it  should  be. 

Luncheon  was  really  over  at  last.  The  Governor's 
lady  said  some  gracious  words  of  welcome  to  her  young 
hostess,  invited  her  to  a  dinner-party  a  few  days  off,  and 
having  ordered  up  her  carriage,  swept  away  with  ner 
daughters.  What  will  be  now  ?  thought  Primrose. 

Rollo  had  put  the  ladies  into  their  carriage,  and  stood 
long  enough  to  let  them  get  out  of  observation  behind 
the  woods  ;  then  he  came  up  on  the  verandah  and  going 


222  WYCH    HAZEL. 

round  the  table  sat  down  beside  Wych  Hazel.  Primrose 
saw — did  the  other  ? — the  easy  motion  which  was  univer- 
sal with  him,  the  fine  figure,  the  frank,  bright  face. 
Primrose  did  not  mean  to  watch,  but  she  saw  it  all,  and 
the  look  with  which  he  sat  down.  It  was  not  that  of  a 
man  about  to  make  an  apology,  neither  had  it  any  smile 
of  attempted  ingratiation.  It  was  rather  a  sweet,  con- 
fidential look  of  inquiry,  which,  however,  went  down 
through  the  depths  of  the  brown  eyes  he  was  looking 
into,  and  rifled  them  of  all  their  secrets.  It  was  a  sort 
of  look  before  which  a  woman's  eyes  fall. 

'  Reo  is  not  seriously  hurt,'  he  said  softly,  when  this 
point  had  been  reached. 

She  bowed  her  head.  '  So  Dr.  Maryland  brought 
word.  At  least  the  hope.' 

1  He  is  only  a  good  deal  bruised.  No  bones  broken, 
nor  any  other  harm  done.  It  might  have  been  worse, 
and  so  the  messenger  who  first  came  did  not  alarm  us 
for  nothing.  One  of  the  woodcutters  had  felled  a  large 
tree  without  giving  due  warning,  or  Reo  had  not  heeded 
the  warning  ;  he  was  caught  under  the  tree.  But  he 
escaped  very  well.  He  is  at  his  own  house,  where  he 
will  have  to  keep  his  bed  some  days,  I  fancy.' 

Another  mute  gesture.  Perhaps  the  girl  was  not  sure 
of  herself  after  all  the  morning's  work,  and  had  no  mind 
to  risk  another  admonition  about  self-control. 

'  I  am  very  glad,'  she  said  gravely,  after  a  minute. 

'  I  am  very  glad.  Mr.  Falkirk  has  sprained  his  ankle,' 
he  went  on  a  little  lower. 

'Mr.  Falkirk!'— 

Hazel  sprang  up, — then  as  instantly  sat  down  again. 
There  should  be  no  more  strength  used  about  her  that 
day  :* 


SELF-CONTROL.  223 

4  Helping  Reo  ? '  she  said. 

'Not  directly.  He  made  a  misstep,  I  think,  among 
the  confusion  of  branches  cut  and  uncut  with  which  the 
ground  was  encumbered ;  slipped  off  one  of  them,  per- 
haps ;  somehow  gave  his  foot  a  twist, — and  there  he  is. 
That  was  the  cause  of  my  long  delay.'  He  spoke, 
watching  the  little  lady  all  the  while. 

'  Why  did  he  not  come  here  ? — it  was  nearer/  she 
said  with  some  accent  of  impatience. 

'  No ' — very  gently — '  we  were  nearer  his  cottage.  I 
proposed  bringing  him, — where  I  was  sure  you  would 
wish  for  him, — here,  at  once;  but  Mr.  Falkirk  laid  his 
commands  on  me  and  on  all  concerned  so  absolutely 
that  there  was  no  choice.  We  carried  him  to  his  cot- 
tage ;  for  he  could  not  walk.' 

*  Just  like  Mr.  Falkirk  !  ' — then   the   impatience  died 
away  in  a  soft  tone  of  pity.     '  Not  able  to  walk  !  '— 
'  He  will  be  a  prisoner  for  some  time,  I  am  afraid.' 
Hazel  made  no  answer  to  that ;  thoughts  were  crowd- 
ing in  thick  and  fast.     What  was  she  going  to  do,  with 
Mr.  Falkirk  laid  up  ?     Would  she   be  a   prisoner  too  ? 
Was  she  to  live  here  in  this  great  old  house  alone,  by 
day  as  well   as  by  night  ?       They  were   rather   sober 
thoughts  that  came. 

'  That's  very  bad  for  Hazel,'  said  Primrose,  coming 
near  and  joining  the  group.  Hazel  held  out  her  hand 
and  got  fast  hold  of  Prim's.  She  was  ready  for  the 
sympathy  this  time. 

'  Does  he  suffer  very  much,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  I  don't  think  he  minds  that  part  of  it ;  no,  I  left  him 

in  comparative  comfort.     I  think  his  trouble  is   about 

you.     And  he  ought  to  have'  come  here  ! — but  people 

don't  always  know  what  they  ought  to  do.     I  am  -going 


224  WYCH    HAZEL. 

down  there  again  presently  to  look  after  him  and  make 
sure  that  Gotham  understands  bandages. 

'  Gotham  thinks  he  understands  everything.' 

'  I'll  just  make  sure  on  that  point.  Have  you  any 
commands  before  I  go  ? ' 

'No,  thank  you,'  she  said,  with  just  the  lightest  shade 
of  hesitation,  '  I  think  not.' 

'  Reconsider  that,  and  give  me  my  orders.' 

'  No — truly  ! '  Hazel  answered,  looking  up  at  him. 
How  busy  the  thoughts  were. 

'  I  am  going  to  Reo's  first.  Have  you  any  commands 
there  ? '  But  she  shook  her  head. 

'  No,  Mr.  Rollo,  not  any.' 

He  went  off  ;  and  there  was  an  interval  somewhat 
quiet  and  untalkative  between  the  two  girls.  Later, 
Rollo  came  back,  reported  both  patients  doing  well, 
and  carried  Prim  home  with  him. 

'  Did  you  think  I  was  all  ungrateful  ? '  Hazel  said, 
wrapping  her  arms  round  Prim.  '  Well,  I  was  not.' 


CHAPTER    XX. 

BOUQUETS. 

WYCH  HAZEL  stood  alone  on  her  broad  steps, 
watching  the  others  out  of  sight,  and  feeling 
alone,  too.  It  must  be  nice  to  belong  to  somebody, — 
to  have  brothers  and  friends  !  Just  for  the  moment, 
she  forgot  her  now  unwatched  independence.  But  then 
she  came  back  to  business,  and  flew  off  up  stairs.  The 
orown  dress  could  not  stay  on  another  minute, — was 
not  the  whole  morning  tucked  away  in  its  folds  ?  That 
was  the  first  thing.  And  the  second  thing  was,  that 
Miss  Kennedy,  in  a  cloud  of  fresh  muslin  and  laces, 
came  out  again  upon  the  steps,  and,  calling  Dingee  to 
follow  her,  began  to  speed  away  through  the  old  trees 
at  a  sort  of  flying  pace.  It  was  late  afternoon  now  ; 
with  lovely  slant  sunbeams  and  shadows  falling  across 
the  slope,  and  a  tossing  breeze,  and  the  birds  at  their 
evening  concert.  Fresh  air,  and  action  soon  brought 
the  girl  up  to  concert  pitch  herself  ;  and  she  went  on 
like  a  very  sprite,  along  a  side  wood  path,  avoiding  the 
main  approach,  and  so  gained  the  lodge  by  a  side  door  ; 
and  in  a  minute  more  stood  by  the  bedside  of  her  faith- 
ful old  retainer.  Hazel  never  knew  at  what  cost  to 
himself  Reo  managed  to  put  out  one  hand  far  enough 
to  receive  her  dainty  fingers. 


226  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  My  little  lady  ! '  he  said  fondly,  '  I  knew  she  would 
come.' 

'  O  Reo — O  Reo  ! — I  am  so  sorry ! '  she  said,  her 
eyes  growing  wet. 

'  No  need  Miss  Wych,  dear,'  said  Reo,  smiling  at  her, 
though  his  own  eyes  moistened  to  see  hers. 

'  And  it  was  just  cutting  those  trees  that  I  did  not 
want  cut ! ' 

'  Aye, — but  they  do  want  cutting  though,  Miss  Wych, 
said  Reo.  '  Mr.  Falkirk  is  right.  And  Mr.  Rollo.' 

How  that  name  came  up  at  every  turn. 

'  Those  trees  are  so  big  ! '  said  Hazel  with  a  shiver. 
'  I  do  not  see  how  you  ever  got  out  again,  Reo.' 

'  Never  should,  my  little  lady,'  said  Reo,  '  only  that 
there  was  somewhat  between  me  and  the  tree.' 

'  Between  you  and  the  tree  ? '  said  Hazel.  '  Do  you 
mean  another  tree,  that  kept  it  off  ? ' 

'  No,  little  lady,'  said  Reo,  '  I  mean  the  Lord's  hand.' 
You  see  He's  quicker  than  we  are,  and  before  I  could 
jump  or  turn,  His  hand  was  there  over  me.  And 
caught  the  tree,  and  let  it  touch  me  but  just  so  much.' 

Hazel  stood  looking  at  him. 

'  Suppose  he  had  not  put  his  hand  there,  Reo  ? '  she 
said. 

'  Then  it  would  have  been  under  me,  Miss  Wych— 
that's  all  the  difference,'  said  Reo,  quietly.  '  Only  I 
should  never  have  seen  my  little  lady  again  in  this  life.' 

'  Well,  you  have  got  to  see  her  a  great  many  times,' 
said  the  girl,  speaking  fast  because  it  was  not  easy  to 
speak  at  all.  '  I  am  coming  to  sing  to  you,  and  read  to 
you,  and  to  do  all  sorts  of  things.'  And  with  a  smile 
like  a  stray  sunbeam  she  left  the  room,  and  after  a  min- 
ute with  Mrs.  Reo  which  straightway  made  her  over,  '  as 


BOUQUETS.  227 

.good  as  two,'  Hazel  flitted  away  up  the  hill  again,  as 
far  as  to  Mr.  Falkirk's  cottage ;  walking  in  through  the 
Summer-open  doors  upon  his  tea  and  toast,  without  the 
slightest  warning.  ,  There  she  was  all  right.  It  was 
delightful  to  get  the  whip  hand  for  once  !  And  so, 
privately  enjoying  Gotham's  dismay  at  her  unannounced 
entrance,  Wych  Hazel  stood  by  her  guardian's  side 
with  a  face  of  grave  reprehension. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,  I  am  really  very  much  surprised  at  you  ! ' 

'  H'm  ! — Not  more  than  I  am  at  myself,  Miss  Hazel. 
You  are  not  ahead  of  me  there.' 

'  Considering  how  much  there  is  to  do,  sir  ;  consider- 
ing the  unsettled  state  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  my 
extremely  unprotected  condition  ;  that  you  should  go 
dancing  round  among  loose  branches  without  a  partner, 
passes  all  my  small  wits.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  glanced  up  at  her,  a  glance  of  momentary 
fun  and  recognition,  though  he  was  by  no  means  in  a 
sportive  mood  ;  that  was  easy  to  see. 

'Will  you  sit  down,  Miss  Hazel?  You  must  play 
guardian  now.  Can  your  wits  accomplish  that  ? ' 

'  Yes,  sir,  I  thank  you.  Will  you  order  me  a  cup  and 
saucer,  Mr.  Falkirk  ?  I  have  had  no  dinner,  and  could 
eat  no  lunch.  And  I  know  Gotham  would  see  me  starve 
before  I  had  even  a  crust  without  your  permission.' 

'  I'm  sure,  Miss  'Azel  ! — Mr.  Falkirk  knows  ' — began 
Gotham. 

'  What  have  you  got,  Gotham  ? — anything  in  the  house  ? 
Be  off,  and  get  all  there  is — and  be  quick  about  it.' 

'  O,  I  do  not  want  much,  sir — just  a  slight  supplement 
to  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,'  said  Hazel,  with  her  gay 
laugh.  '  Mr.  Falkirk,  don't  you  think  it  would  be  very 
nice  to  have  Mrs.  Saddler  dust  up  that  little  bit  of  a 


228  WYCH    HAZEL. 

brown  corner  room  for  me  ?  And  then  I  could  stay 
here  with  you  all  the  time,  and  we  would  take  splendid 
care  of  each  other.' 

'  There's  nothing  there  but  a  little  brown  room,  my 
dear/ 

'  I  do  not  care,  sir.  Mrs.  Saddler  must  have  a  spare 
blanket  among  her  stores.  And  I  would  leave  word  up 
yonder  that  I  had  unexpectedly  gone  away  for  a  time. — 
And  it  would  be  fun,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  decidedly.  '  Be- 
sides the  other  advantages.' 

'What  will  happen  to  all  the  princes  who  are  coming 
after  the  princess  ? ' 

'  They  will  learn — self-control,'  said  Miss  Hazel.  '  I 
have  been  told  lately  that  it  is  a  good  thing.' 

'  Not  formerly  ? ' 

'The  last  time  made  the  most  impression,  sir.  As 
last  times  are  apt  to  do.' 

'  Miss  Hazel,  I  have  a  request  to  make  to  you,'  Mr. 
Falkirk  said,  after  allowing  a  minute  or  two  of  silence 
to  succeed  the  last  remark. 

'  What,  sir  ?  That  I  will  not  sing  so  loud  in  the  little 
brown  room  as  to  disturb  your  repose  ?  I  can  promise 
that.' 

'  You  have  not  got  your  horses  yet.' 

'  No,  sir.  I  am  sure  I  ought  to  know  so  much,'  said 
the  girl  with  a  sigh. 

'  Rollo  will  see  to  it.  You  forget,  my  dear ,  we  have 
been  but  a  few  days  here.  Miss  Hazel,  do  you  remember 
the  story  of  the  enchanted  horse  in  the  Arabian  Nights  ? ' 

'  With  great  clearness,  sir.  In  everything  but  his  ap- 
pearance it  was  just  the  horse  I  should  like.' 

'  Just  the  horse  I  am  afraid  of.  The  cavalier  turned 
a  screw  and  the  lady  was  gone.  I  request  that  you  will 


BOUQUETS.  22Q 

mount  nobody's  steed,  not  even  your  own,  without  con- 
sulting me  first  that  I  may  make  sure  all  is  safe.  It  is 
still  more  true  than  it  was  the  other  night  that  I  require 
your  co-operation  to  discharge  my  trust.' 

'  Why,  of  course  I  should  consult  you,  sir ! '  she  said, 
with  some  surprise. 

'That  is  all,  Miss  Hazel.  Rollo  will  give  his  over- 
sight to  the  woods.  Only  don't  engage  yourself  to  any- 
body for  a  ride  till  you  have  consulted  me.  Do  you 
agree  to  that  form  of  precaution-taking  ? ' 

'  Certainly,  sir.  I  am  sure  I  referred  Mr.  Morton  to 
you  at  once,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  drinking  her  tea.  And 
Mr.  Falkirk,  in  a  silence  that  was  meditative  if  not 
gloomy,  lay  and  watched  her.  It  was  a  little  book  room 
where  they  were,  perhaps  the  largest  on  that  floor,  how- 
ever ;  a  man's  room.  The  walls  all  books  and  maps, 
with  deer  horns,  a  small  telescope  and  pistols  for  a  few 
of  its  varieties.  Yet  it  was  cheerful  too,  and  in  perfect 
order  ;  and  Mr.  Falkirk  was  lying  on  a  comfortable  chintz 
couch.  Papers  and  writing  materials  and  books  had 
been  displaced  from  one  end  of  the  table  for  Hazel's 
tea.  That  over,  the  young  lady  brought  a  foot-cushion 
to  the  side  of  Mr.  Falkirk's  couch  and  established  her- 
self there,  much  refreshed. 

'  It  is  great  fun  to  come  to  tea  with  you,  sir  !  Now 
may  I  go  on  with  business  ?  or  are  you  too  tired  ? ' 

'  Suppose  I  say  I  am  too  tired  ? '  growled  Mr.  Falkirk, 
*  what  will  you  do  ? ' 

Hazel  glanced  up  at  him  from  under  her  eyelashes. 

'  Wait,  sir.  I  am  learning  to  wait,  beautifully  ! '  she 
answered  with  great  demureness.  '  Then  suppose  I  go 
and  tell  Mrs.  Saddler  about  my  room  ? ' 

'Go  along,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.     'Give  your  ordeis. 


230  WYCH    HAZEL. 

You  had  better  send  up  to  the  house  for  some  furniture. 
You'll  make  Mrs.  Saddler  happy  at  any  rate.  I  am  not 
so  sure  about  Gotham.  .  But  Gotham  has  too  easy  a  life 
in  general.' 

They  had  a  lively  time  of  it  in  the  other  part  of  the 
house  for  the  next  half  day.  And  so  had  Mr.  Falkirk 
in  his,  for  that  matter  :  the  sweet  voice  and  laugh  and 
song,  somehow,  penetrated  to  his  study  as  grosser 
sounds  might  have  failed  to  do.  It  was  towards  tea-time 
again  when  Wych  Hazel  presented  herself  in  the  study 
on  the  tips  of  her  toes,  and  subsiding  once  more  to  her 
cushion  glanced  up  as  before  at  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  Has  the  fatigue  of  yesterday  gone  off,  sir? ' 

'No  ;  but  I  see  the  business  has  come.  Can  you  be 
comfortable  in  your  mousehole  ?  Let  us  have  the  busi 
ness,  my  dear.  If  it  is  knotty  perhaps  it  will  make  me 
forget  my  ankle.' 

'  Ah  ! '  she  said  remorsefully, '  I  was  talking  of  fatigue, 
sir — not  of  pain.  Is  the  pain  very  bad  ? ' 

'  No,  my  dear ;  but  I  was  always  inclined  to  the 
epicurean  side  of  philosophy,  and  partial  to  anodynes  ; 
or  even  counter-irritants.' 

'  Whose  bandage  have  you  got  on  ? '  she  said  curi- 
ously. 

'  Whose  ?     My  own.' 

'  Dear  sir,  I  do  not  mean  as  to  the  linen  !  Mr.  Rollo 
was  coming  down  to  teach  Gotham,  and  I  wondered 
which  of  them  took  a  lesson.  That  is  all.' 

1  H'm  !     Ask  Gotham,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  I  wish  I  had  been  here  to  see,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'  Never  mind,  I  will  next  time.  By  the  way,  sir,  did 
you  leave  any  orders  for  me  yesterday  morning  with 
anybody  ? ' 


BOUQUETS.  231 

'What  do  you  mean,  my  dear?'  said  her  guardian, 
rather  opening  his  eyes.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  though 
he  growled  and  frowned  as  much  as  ever,  there  had 
come  into  Mr.  Falkirk's  mien  an  undoubted  softening 
of  expression  since  yesterday. 

'  I  merely  asked,  sir.  But  now  for  business.  Mrs. 
Powder  is  to  have  a  grand  explosion  in  the  way  of  a 
dinner  party  next  week.  And  she  wants  me  to  come 
and  help  touch  off  the  fireworks.  May  I  go  ? ' 

*  What  did  you  tell  her  ? ' 

'  That  I  would  if  you  would,  sir.' 

'  Is  this  the  business  ? ' 

'  Item  the  first,  sir.' 

'  Well,  my  dear.  Anything  conditional  upon  my 
movements  for  some  time  to  come  will  probably  have 
to  be  vetoed.  But  you  will  have  offers  of  a  substi- 
tute.' 

'  The  Marylands  are  going,  sir.' 

'  Of  course.' 

1  Well,  Mr.  Falkirk,  suppose  substitutes  do  offer,— 
what  then  ? 

'Then  you  will  follow  your  pleasure,  Miss  Hazel.' 

'  Thank  you,  sir.  The  next  item  seems  to  be  a  mild 
form  of  this  :  a  little  evening  party  at  Mrs.  Gen.  Mer- 
rick's.  And  Mrs.  Merrick  hearing  of  your  accident, 
sent  a  note  to  say  that  Miss  Bird  would  convey  me  to 
Merricksdale,  safe  and  in  good  order.' 

'  Who  is  Miss  Bird  ? ' 

'  Don't  you  remember,  sir  ?  She  came  to  see  me  the 
same  morning  the  Lasalle  party  came.' 

'There  are  a  great  many  Birds,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk, 
grumpily,  '  and  they  are  not  all  pigeons.' 

'  But,  my  dear  Mr.  Falkirk,  however  important  such 


332  WYCH    HAZEL. 

natural  history  facts  may  be,  they  do  not  exactly  meet 
the  case  in  hand.' 

'  I  don't  know  whether  they  meet  it  or  no.  Can't 
you  go  with  Miss  Maryland  ? ' 

'  Not  invited,  sir.' 

'  How  would  you  get  back  ? ' 

'  Mrs.  Merrick  takes  charge  of  that.' 

'  And  didn't  think  it  necessary  to  inform  you  how  or 
when  ? ' 

'  It  is  only  a  small  party,  sir.  I  should  expect  to  be 
back  early.' 

'That  needs  to  be  made  certain,  Miss  Hazel,  and 
stipulated  for.' 

'  Well,  sir,  you  shall  name  the  hour.' 

'  Name  it  yourself ;  but  be  home  by  half-past  eleven. 
Miss  Hazel,  I  wish,  till  you  have  your  own  horses,  you 
would  not  go  to  such  places.' 

There  was  a  shade  of  disappointment  in  her  face,  but 
she  answered  steadily — 

'  I  will  not  go,  sir,  if  that  is  really  your  wish.' 

'  My  dear,  we  must  meet  the  enemy.  In  the  progress 
of  ladies  seeking  their  fortune  that  is  always  understood. 
What  next  ? ' 

She  hesitated  a  moment,  carefully  dressing  the  petals 
of  a  carnation  in  her  hand. 

'  The  third  item,  sir,  is — that  if  to-morrow  afternoon 
I — will  consent  to  put — my  little  foot,'  said  Miss  Hazel, 
evidently  mastering  a  laugh,  '  inside  the  right  phaeton 
— Mr.  May  will  consent  to  drive.' 

'  Mr.  May  !  Confound  his  impudence  ! '  was  the  by 
no  means  doubtful  utterance  of  Miss  Hazel's  guardian. 

Hazel  bit  her  lips  and  sat  demurely  waiting  furthei 
developments. 


BOUQUETS.  233 

'  Chickaree  is  in  a  very  exposed  situation,  Miss  Ha- 
zel ! '  Mr.  Falkirk  remarked,  with  something  a  little  like 
a  sigh.  While,  as  if  to  give  effect  to  his  words,  two 
well-mounted  horsemen  at  that  moment  went  up  the 
hill,  exchanging  greetings  with  the  occupants  of  a  lan- 
dau that  was  just  then  making  the  descent.  Wych 
Hazel  looked  and  laughed. 

'  It  is  very  comical !  '  she  said.  But  her  guardian 
was  silent.  He  knew  the  Enchanted  ground  had  to  be 
met  and  passed.  Perhaps  he  wished  it  were  well  over ; 
but  I  think  the  present  feeling  of  discontent  relieved 
itself  not  even  so  far. 

'  And  on  the  whole  your  three  answers  are,  sir  ? — ' 
said  Hazel,  after  a  pause. 

'  In  your  head,'  Mr.  Falkirk  growled.  '  You  know 
what  they  are.' 

'  My  dear  sir !  one  would  think  they  were  in  your 
foot ! '  But  then  she  was  silent,  and  then  she  began  to 
sing.  One  thing  and  another,  after  her  own  fitful  fash- 
ion, in  the  twilight ;  and  business  did  not  come  up 
again.  Only  as  she  went  to  sleep  that  night,  Miss  Ken- 
nedy indulged  in  one  profound  reflection. 

'  No,' she  said  to  herself,  '  Dr.  Maryland  was  right: 
Primrose  would  never  do.  Get  her  in  a  corner,  and  the 
most  she  can  say  is,  "  Duke  knows."  ' 

So  drew  on  the  night  of  Mrs.  Merrick's  party ;  and 
meantime  a  rainy  day  or  two  saved  Mr.  Falkirk  some 
trouble,  and  left  the  cottage  in  comparative  quiet.  But 
as  the  night  drew  near,  the  clouds  cleared  away  and 
the  sun  shone  out,  and  fairer  weather  could  not  have 
been  wished  for,  or  wished  away. 

There  had  been  a  running  fire  of  errands  and  mes- 
sages between  the  cottage  and  the  house  on  the  hill,  all 


234  WYCH    HAZEL. 

day.  Miss  Kennedy  was  constantly  finding  out  some- 
thing more  that  she  wanted  for  the  evening,  and  Din 
gee  went  back  and  forth  with  notes  to  Mrs.  Bywank 
and  waterproof-covered  baskets  in  return,  till  Gotham 
at  least  lost  patience. 

'  More  duds  for  Miss  'Azel ! '  he  said  in  displeasure, 
as  Dingee  appeared  just  at  nightfall  with  a  final  basket. 
'  It's  clean  ridikerlous  !  One  dress  at  a  time  ought  to 
content  any  young  lady.' 

'  Now  I  jes'  tell  you  what,  Mas'  Gotham,'  said  Dingee, 
'you  ain't  up  to  de  situation.  Pears  like  de  whole 
countryside  after  my  young  mistis  !  ' 

Gotham  gave  a  grunt  in  unsuccessful  imitation  of 
his  master's  growl. 

'  H'after'er,'  he  said.  '  Looks  more  as  if  she  was 
h'after  them — wanting  fourteen  dresses  at  once.' 

Dingee  shewed  his  teeth  from  ear  to  ear. 

'  You  bery  wise  man,  Mas'  Gotham  ! '  he  said.  '  Spect 
now  you  can  tell  a  feller  all  about  dese  yere.'  And 
Dingee  threw  off  the  white  paper  which  covered  what 
he  carried  this  time,  and  displayed  to  Gotham's  aston- 
ished eyes  a  basket  full  of  bouquets. 

'  'Spect  now  dese  yere  growed  in  Missee  Hazel's  own 
greenhouse,'  he  said,  tauntingly,  'seein'  she  ain't 
got  none  !  Shouldn't  wonder  if  dey  started  up  spon- 
tanous  like,  arter  de  shower.  How  you  tink,  Mas' 
Gotham,  hey?  ' 

But  Gotham  was  virtuously  indignant. 

'  Miss'  Azel'll  get  her  head  worse  turned  than  it  h'is 
now,'  he  said. 

'  Heads  does  turn,  fact,'  said  Dingee,  shaking  his  own. 
'Jes'  you  watch  'em  when  de  horseback  gen'lemen  dey 
goes  by,  Mas'  Gotham,  and  you'll  see  de  heads  turn ! ' 


BOUQUETS.  235 

But  Gotham  had  watched  enough  already  to  know 
there  was  no  mistake  about  that. 

*  Well,'  he  said,  '  since  h'it's  'ere,  h'itYere,  and  '11  'ave 
to  stay,  no  doubt.  I'll  take  it  to  the  library.' 

'  Cotch  him  first ! '  said  Dingee,  moving  a  little  out 
of  reach.  '  Where  Missee  Hazel  ? ' 

4  Prinking  'erself  h'up,'  answered  Gotham  severely. 

'  Gotham  telling  fibs  !  '  said  the  young  lady  in  ques- 
tion, coming  up  behind  him  with  her  light  tread.  '  Per- 
haps he  had  better  take  himself "to  the  library,  and  re- 
port to  Mr.  Falkirk.  What  do  you  want  of  me,  Din- 
gee  ?  I  thought  everything  was  here.' 

Dingee  had  adroitly  covered  his  basket  again,  but 
now  he  drew  near  and  displayed  his  treasure,  adding 
messages  of  a  somewhat  adorned  nature,  while  Wych 
Hazel  read  the  cards  attached  to  the  bouquets.  Gotham, 
standing  a  little  off,  looked  on  indignant  as  before,  and 
frowned  at  the  flowers  and  the  flushing  cheeks  drooped 
over  them,  as  if  he  had  been  Mr.  Falkirk  himself.  But 
when  Hazel  caught  up  the  basket  and  ran  off  to  her 
little  corner  room,  then  Gotham  did  betake  himself  to 
the  library,  though  without  quite  the  report  suggested. 

'  Beg  pardon,  sir,'  he  said  ;  '  Miss  '  Azel  'ave  just  re 
ceived  a  bushel  of  flowers,  sir, — if  you  choose  to  be 
h'aware,  sir.' 

'  A  what,  Gotham  ? '  said  the  astonished  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  No  person  of  discretion  to  detain  them  at  the  'ouse, 
sir,  and  so  of  course  they  followed  Miss  '  Azel  down  'ere, 
sir.  Boukets  enough  to  last  a  h'ordinary  person  all 
summer,  sir.  And  cards.  And  ribbands,' — concluded 
Gotham,  beginning  to  clear  the  table  for  tea. 

'  Look  here,  Gotham' —  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  from  his 
sofa,  whence  his  eyes  followed  his  serving-man  about. 


236  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Yes,  sir ! '  said  Gotham,  erect  and  motionless. 

'  Do  you  dare  to  speak  of  Miss  Hazel  as  an  ordinary 
person  ? ' 

'  Why,  no  sir  !  By  no  means  !  Very  h'extraordinary, 
I  thought  I  said,  sir — or  h'indicated,'  replied  Gotham, 
going  back  to  his  leisurely  motions  about  the  table. 

'  Have  the  goodness  to  remember  that  it  is  proper 
her  flowers  should  be  extraordinary." 

1 O,  you  are  clearing  the  table,'  Hazel  said,  flitting  in  ; 
'  just  what  I  wanted — tea  early.' 

'  Tea  never  h'is  late,  Miss  '  Azel ! '  said  Gotham  in  an 
aggrieved  voice. 

'  I  didn't  know  hut  it  might  be  to-night,'  said  the  girl 
provokingly.  '  But  dear  Mr.  Falkirk,  do  you  really 
like  to  have  ycur  books  disturbed  so  often,  just  for 
me?' 

*  My  dear,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  rather  lazily,  brushing 
one  hand  over  his  forehead,  '  you  have  done  that  for 
my  life  generally.' 

'  My  dear  Mr.  Falkirk  ! — evidently  I  have  just  come  in 
time  to  receive  a  shot  meant  for  somebody  else.  I  wond- 
er you  allow  yourself  to  fire  at  random,  sir,  in  that  way.' 

'  Who  has  been  sending  you  flowers,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 
her  guardian  asked,  without  change  of  tone. 

She  laughed. 

'  Shall  I  leave  you  the  cards,  sir — just  to  pass  away 
the  time  while  I  am  gone  ? ' 

'I'll  take  them  now,  Miss  Hazel,  if  you  please.'  Mr. 
Falkirk  stretched  out  his  hand. 

'  They  are  not  so  precious  as  to  be  carried  in  my 
pocket,  sir.  Do  you  want  them  before  tea  ? ' 

'  If  you  please,  Miss  Hazel !' 

'  I  don't  please  a  bit,  sir.     I  am  in  a  great  hurry  to  go 


BOUQUETS.  237 

to  my  dressing.  And  you  know,  Mr.  Falkirk,  you  sel- 
dom try  for  "  the  soul  of  wit  "  on  such  occasions.' 

'  Does  that  mean,  you  refuse  me  the  sight  of  them  ? 

'  No,  sir ! — "By  no  means  !  " — to  quote  Gotham,'  said 
Wych  Hazel,  jumping  up.  She  came  back  and  laid 
the  cards  in  his  hand — quite  a  packet  of  them.  Mr. 
Falkirk  found  names  that  he  knew  and  names  that  he 
did  not.  He  turned  them  over,  speaking  some  of  the 
names  in  an  inexpressive  sotto  voce ;  and  then  began 
doubling  them  up,  one  after  the  other,  and  letting  them 
fall  on  the  floor  beside  him. 

'  Have  you  got  a  copy  of  the  Arabian  Nights  in  your 
library,  my  dear  ? '  he  asked.  '  I  wish  you  would  send 
for  it.  I  am  not  posted.  I  have  an  indistinct  impres- 
sion of  a  fight  between  two  rival  powers,  in  which,  after 
a  variety  of  transformations,  the  one  of  them  in  the  shape 
of  a  kernel  of  corn  was  swallowed  by  the  other  in  some 
appropriate  shape.  I  should  like  to  study  the  tactics. 
watch  my  opportunity,  and  make  an  end  of  these  gen- 
try.' Mr.  Falkirk  dropped  the  last  card  as  he  spoke. 

'Ha!  ha  !' laughed  Wych  Hazel  in  her  soft  notes. 
'You  will  feel  better,  sir,  when  you  have  had  a  cup  of 
tea.'  And  she  began  preparing  it  at  once.  Whether 
or  not  Mr.  Falkirk  felt  better  he  did  not  say. 

The  girl  went  off  to  her  dressing.  And  just  before 
the  hour  when  Miss  Bird  must  arrive  she  came  silently 
in  again  and  stood  before  her  guardian.  If  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk thought  of  humming-birds  then,  it  could  only  have 
been  of  the  tropical  species.  A  dark  dress,  that  shim- 
mered and  glittered  and  fell  into  shadows  with  every 
motion,  first  caught  his  eye  ;  but  then  Mr.  Falkirk  saw 
that  it  was  looped  with  bouquets.  Now  either  Miss 
Hazel's  admirers  had  differing  tastes,  or  a  different  image 


238  WYCH    HAZEL. 

of  her,  or  else  each  sent  what  he  could  get ;  for  the 
bouquets  were  extremely  diverse.  A  bunch  of  heath 
and  myrtle  held  up  the  dress  here,  a  cluster  of  crimson 
roses  held  it  back  there  ;  another  cluster  of  gold  and 
buff,  a  trailing  handful  of  glowing  fuchsias — there  is  no 
need  to  go  through  the  list.  But  she  had  arranged 
them  with  great  skill  to  set  each  other  off;  tied  to- 
gether by  their  own  ribbands,  catching  up  the  shimmer 
of  her  dress. 

Mr.  Falkirk  looked,  and  the  fact  that  his  face. ex- 
pressed nothing  at  all  was  rather  significant.  One 
glance  at  the  girl's  face  he  gave,  and  turned  away. 

'  Take  care,  my  dear,'  he  said. 

'Of  what,  sir?' 

'  How  do  you  know  but  those  flowers  are  bewitched  : 
You  would  not  be  the  first  woman  who  had  put  on  her 
own  chains.' 

She  smiled — rather  to  herself  than  him — throwing 
her  little  white  cloak  over  her  shoulders ;  and  then, 
girl-like,  went  down  on  one  knee  and  kissed  her  guar- 
dian's hand. 

'  Good  night,  sir,'  she  said.  The  carriage  came,  and 
she  was  gone. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

MOONSHINE. 

AFTER  the  day  of  rain,  and  the  afternoon  of 
clearing  wind  and  clouds,  the  evening  of  Mrs. 
Merrick's  party  passed  into  one  of  those  strange,  un- 
earthly nights  when  the  whole  world  seems  resolved 
into  moonlight  and  a  midsummer  night's  dream.  So 
while  gas  and  hot-house  flowers  had  it  all  their  own 
way  in  the  house  at  Merricksdale,  over  the  rest  of  the 
outside  world  the  wondrous  moonlight  reigned  supreme 
Not  white  and  silvery,  but  as  it  were  gilded  and  me!  • 
lowed  with  the  summer  warmth.  Step  by  step  it  in- 
vaded the  opening  ranks  of  forest  trees ;  and  dark 
shadows  wound  noiselessly  away  from  the  close  pursuit. 
Not  a  wind  whispered ;  not  a  moving  thing  was  in 
sight  along  the  open  road.  Except  indeed  Mr.  Rollo, 
who — not  invited  to  Mrs.  Merrick's,  and  just  returned 
from  a  short  journey — was  getting  over  the  ground  that 
lay  between  the  railway  station  and  home  on  foot. 
And  his  way  took  him  along  the  highway  that  stretched 
from  Crocus  to  the  gates  of  Chickaree. 

Now  moonlight  is  a  very  bewildering  thing — and 
thoughts  do  sometimes  play  the  very  will-o'-the-wisp 
with  one.  And  when  somebody  you  know  is  at  a  party, 


240  WYCH   HAZEL. 

there  is  a  funny  inclination  to  go  through  the  motions 
at  least,  and  be  up  as  late  as  anybody  else.  So  it  was 
with  a  somewhat  sudden  recollection  that  Mr.  Rollo 
bethought  him  of  what  his  watch  might  say.  Just  then 
he  was  in  a  belt  of  shadow,  where  trees  crowded  out 
the  moon  ;  but  the  next  sharp  turn  of  the  road  was  all 
open  and  flooded  with  the  yellow  light. 

It  would  be  quite  too  much  to  suppose  that  the 
gentleman  in  question  was  particularly  open  to  impres- 
sions— and  it  is  certain  that  his  thoughts  at  that  minute 
were  well  wrapped  up  in  their  own  affairs  ;  and  yet  as 
he  went  round  the  turn,  passing  out  of  the  line  of 
shadow  into  absolute  moonshine  again,  there  came 
upon  him  a  strange  sense  of  some  presence  there  be- 
sides his  own.  But  what  the  evidence  was,  whether  it 
had  smote  upon  his  eye  or  jipon  his  ear,  of  that  Mr. 
Rollo  was  profoundly  ignorant.  Yet  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  he  came  out  of  his  musings  and  looked  about  him. 
Only  a  midsummer  night's  dream  still :  the  open  road 
for  a  mile  ahead  in  full  view,  the  dark  line  of  trees  on 
each  side  as  motionless  as  if  asleep.  But  the  utter 
hush  was  perhaps  more  suggestive  than  the  stir  of  a 
breezy  night :  it  seemed  as  if  everything  was  listening 
and  held  its  breath  to  hear. 

The  gentleman  in  question,  however,  was  not  one  to 
let  slip  such  a  suggestion  to  his  nerves — or  his  senses. 
His  nerves  were  of  the  coolest  and  steadiest  kind  ;  he 
could  depend  on  them  for  getting  up  no  shams  to  puzzle  , 
him ;  and  his  senses  had  had  capital  training.  Eye 
and  ear  were  keen  almost  as  those  of  some  of  the  wild 
creatures  whose  dependence  they  are  ;  and  Rollo  had 
the  craft  and  skill  of  a  practised  hunter.  So  instead 
of  dismissing  the  fancy  that  had  struck  him,  as  most 


MOONSHINE.  241 

men  would,  he  fell  noiselessly  into  the  shadow  again, 
with  eyes  and  ears  alive  on  the  instant  to  take  evidence 
that  might  be  relied  on.  But  nothing  stirred.  Nothing 
shewed.  Except  as  before,  the  yellow  moonlight  and 
the  dark  trees.  Rollo  was  a  hunter,  and  patient.  He 
stood  still.  The  shadowy  edges  of  the  stream  of  light 
changed  slowly,  slightly,  and  still  the  evidence  he  look- 
ed for  did  not  come.  Nothing  seemed  to  change  but 
those  dark  fringes  ;  only  now  some  wave  of  the  branches 
as  the  wind  began  to  rise,  let  in  the  moonlight  for  a 
moment  upon  a  small  white  speck  across  the  road.  He 
thought  so  :  something  whiter  than  a  wet  stone  or  a 
bleached  stick, — or  it  might  be  fancy.  Noiselessly  and 
almost  invisibly,  for  Dane  could  move  like  an  Indian, 
and  with  such  quickness,  he  was  over  the  road  and  a  I 
the  spot.  There  was  no  mistaking  the  token — it  was  a 
little  glove  of  Wych  Hazel's.  Evidently  dropped  in 
haste  ;  for  one  of  her  well-known  jewelled  fastenings 
lay  glittering  in  his  hand.  But — Mrs.  Gen.  Merrick 
lived  quite  in  another  quarter  of  the  world  ;  and  in  no 
case  did  the  direct  road  from  Merricksdale  lead  by  here. 
If  Rollo's  senses  had  been  alive  before,  which  was 
but  their  ordinary  and  normal  condition,  he  was  now  in 
the  frame  of  mind  of  a  Sioux  on  the  war-path,  and  in 
corresponding  alertness  and  acuteness  of  every  faculty. 
The  little  glove  was  swiftly  put  where  it  would  furnish 
a  spot  of  light  to  no  one  else  ;  and  in  breathless  readi- 
ness for  action,  though  that  is  rhetorical,  for  Rollo's 
breath  was  as  regular  and  as  calm  as  cool  nerves  could 
make  it,  he  subsided  again  into  the  utter  inaction  which 
is  all  eye  and  ear.  And  then  in  a  few  minutes,  from 
across  the  road  again,  and  near  where  he  was  at  first, 
came  these  soft  words  : 

16 


242  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Mr.  Rollo — will  you  give  quarter  if  I  surrender  at 
discretion  ?  Just  to  save  you  trouble — and  let  me  get 
home  the  quicker.' 

In  the  next  instant  the  gentleman  stood  by  the  lady's 
side.  Well  for  him  that  he  was  a  hunter,  and  that 
habit  is  a  great  thing ;  for  he  made  no  exclamations 
and  showed  no  disturbance,  though  Wych  Hazel  in  the 
woods  at  that  time  of  night,  was  a  thing  to  try  most 
people's  command  of  words  at  least.  Only  in  the 
spring  which  brought  him  across  the  road  he  had 
spoken  the  one  word  "  Hazel ! "  louder  than  an  Indian 
would  have  done.  Then  he  stood  beside  her.  Wych 
Hazel  herself — bareheaded,  without  gloves,  her  little 
white  evening  cloak  not  around  her  shoulders,  but 
rolled  up  into  the  smallest  possible  compass,  and  held 
down  by  her  side.  She  had  been  standing  in  the 
deepest  depth  of  shadow  under  a  low  drooping  hem- 
lock, and  now  came  out  to  meet  him.  But  she  seemed 
to  have  no  more  words  to  give.  That  something  had 
happened,  was  very  clear.  Rollo's  first  move  was  to 
take  the  girl's  hand,  and  the  second  to  inquire  in  a  low 
voice  how  she  came  there.  The  hand-touch  was  not  in 
compliment,  but  such  a  taking-possession  clasp  as 
Hazel  had  felt  from  it  before  ;  one  that  carried,  as  a 
hand-clasp  can,  its  guaranty  of  protection,  guidance, 
defence. 

Hazel  did  not  answer  at  first — only  there  went  a 
shiver  over  her  from  head  to  foot ;  and  her  hand  was  as 
cold  as  ice. 

'  I  am  very  glad  to  find  you,  Mr.  Rollo,'  she  said  in  a 
sort  of  measured  voice  ;  he  could  not  tell  what  was  in 
it. — '  Will  you  walk  home  with  me  ? ' 

Rollo's   answer  was  not  in  a  hurry.     He   first   took 


MOONSHINE.  243 

from  Wych  Hazel  her  little  bundle  of  the  Optra  cloak, 
shook  it  out,  and  put  it  around  her  shoulders,  drawing 
the  fastening  button  at  the  throat ;  then  taking  the  little 
cold  hand  in  his  clasp  again,  and  with  the  other  arm 
lingering  lightly  round  her  shoulders,  he  asked  her 
"  what  had  happened  ?  " 

People  are  different,  as  has  been  remarked.  There 
was  nobody  in  the  world  that  could  have  put  the  ques 
tion  to  Wych  Hazel  as  he  put  it,  and  afterwards  she 
could  recognize  that.  Mr.  Falkirk's  words  would  have 
been  more  anxious  ;  Dr.  Maryland's  would  have  been 
more  astonished  ;  and  any  one  of  Miss  Hazel's  admirers 
would  have  made  speeches  of  surprise  and  sympathy 
and  offered  service.  Rollo's  was  a  business  question, 
albeit  in  its  somewhat  curt  accentuation  there  lurked  a 
certain  readiness  for  action  ;  and  there  was  besides, 
though  indefinably  expressed,  the  assumption  of  a  right 
to  know  and  a  very  intimate  personal  concern  in  the 
answer.  How  his  eyes  were  looking  at  her  the  moon- 
light did  not  serve  to  shew  ;  they  were  in  shadow  ;  yet 
even  that  was  not  quite  hid  from  the  object  of  them; 
and  the  arm  that  was  round  her  was  there,  not  in  free- 
dom-taking, but  with  the  unmistakeable  expression  of 
shelter.  So  he  stood  and  asked  her  what  had  hap- 
pened. 

'  Thank  you,'  she  s.iid  in  the  same  measured  tone.  '  I 
am  not  cold — I  think.  But  it  is  safe  now.  Will  you 
walk  home  very  fast,  please  ?  I  promised  Mr.  Falkirk 
that  I  would  be  home  by  eleven  ! ' — There  was  an 
accent  of  real  distress  then. 

'  Do  you  know  what  o'clock  it  is  now  ? '  said  Rollo, 
drawing  out  his  watch. 

'  I  hoped — a  while  ago — it  was  near  morning.' 


244  WYCH    HAZEL. 

He  did  not  say  what  time  it  was.  He  put  the  little 
hand  on  his  arm,  guided  Hazel  into  the  road,  and  began 
his  walk  homeward,  but  with  a  measured  quiet  pace,  not 
'  very  fast.' 

'  Why  did  you  wish  it  was  morning  ? '  he  asked  in  the 
same  way  in  which  he  had  spoken  before.  No  haste  in 
it ;  calm  business  and  self-possession ;  along  with  the 
other  indications  above  mentioned.  It  was  cool,  but  it 
was  the  coolness  of  a  man  intensely  alive  to  the  work  in 
hand  ;  the  intonation  towards  Wych  Hazel  very  gentle. 

'  I  thought  I  had  to  walk  home  alone,'  she  said  sim- 
ply. '  And  I  wanted  the  time  to  come.' 

'  Please  tell  me  the  meaning  of  all  this.  You  went 
to  Merricksdale  this  evening — last  evening  ? ' 

'  Yes.'     Words  did  not  come  readily. 

Rollo  added  no  more  questions  then.  He  went 
steadily  on,  keeping  a  gentle  pace  that  Wych  Hazel 
could  easily  bear,  until  they  came  to  the  long  grey  stone 
house  where  she  had  once  run  in  from  the  storm.  At 
the  gate  Rollo  paused  and  opened  it,  leading  his  com- 
panion up  to  the  door. 

'  I  am  going  to  take  you  in  here  for  a  little  while,'  he 
said.  '  We  will  disturb  nobody — don't  fear  ;  I  have  a 
key.' 

'  In  here  ? '  she  said,  rousing  up  then.  '  O  no  ! — I 
must  go  home,  Mr.  Rollo.  Did  you  bring  me  this  way 
— I  did  not  notice.' 

'  You  shall  go  home  just  as  soon  as  possible/  he  said; 
*  but  come  in  here  and  I  will  tell  you  my  reasons  for 
stopping.' 

The  door  opened  noiselessly.  The  moonlight  shewed 
the  way,  shining  in  through  the  fanlights,  and  Rollo 
pushed  open  the  door  of  the  library  and  brought  his 


MOONSHINE.  245 

charge  in  there.  The  next  thing  was  to  strike  a  match 
and  light  two  candles.  The  room  looked  very  peace- 
ful, just  as  it  had  been  deserted  by  the  family  a  few 
hours  before  ;  Rosy's  work  basket  with  the  work  over- 
flowing it,  the  books  and  papers  on  the  table  where  the 
gentleman  had  been  sitting ;  the  chairs  standing  where 
they  had  been  last  used.  Past  the  chairs  Rollo  brought 
Wych  Hazel  to  the  chintz  sofa  and  seated  her  there  with 
a  cushion  at  her  back  ;  drew  up  a  foot  cushion,  and 
unfastened  her  opera  cloak.  All  this  was  done  with 
quiet  movements  and  in  silence.  He  left  her  then  for  a 
few  minutes.  Coming  back,  presented  her  on  a  little 
tray  a  glass  of  milk  and  a  plate  of  rusks. 

'  I  could  get  nothing  else,'  said  he,  '  without  rousing 
the  people  up  to  give  me  keys.  But  I  know  the  way  to 
Prim's  dairy — and  I  know  which  are  the  right  pans  to 
go  to.  Miss  Prudentia  always  objected  to  that  in  me.' 

'  But  I  cannot  see  anybody — nor  speak  to  anybody — 
nor  do  anything — till  I  have  seen  Mr.  Falkirk,'  said 
Hazel,  looking  up  at  him  with  her  tired  eyes.  '  Indeed 
I  am  not  hungry.' 

He  stood  before  her  and  bade  her  'drink  a  little  milk 
• — it  was  good.' 

Her  brows  drew  together  slightly,  but — if  that  was  the 
quickest  way  she  would  take  that — and  so  half  emptied 
the  tumbler  and  set  it  down  again. 

'  Now  let  us  go.' 

He  sat  down  before  her  then. 

'  Is  there  anything  in  what  has  happened  to-night 
which  makes  you  wish  to  keep  it  from  the  rest  of  the 
world  ?  except  of  course  Mr.  Falkirk  and  me  ? ' 

If  his  object  was  to  rouse  her  from  the  mechanical 
way  in  which  she  had  hitherto  moved  and  spoken, 


246  WYCH    HAZEL. 

success  is  rarely  more  perfect.  Crimson  and  scarlet  and 
all  shades  of  colour  went  over  her  face  and  neck  at  the 
possible  implication  in  his  words  ;  but  she  drew  herselt 
up  with  a  world  of  girlish  dignity,  and  then  the  brown 
eyes  looked  straight  into  his. 

"'  It  is  nobody's  business,'  she  answered.  '  So  far. — 
No  further.' 

He  smiled.  '  You  mistake  me,'  he  said,  very  pleas- 
antly. '  That  is  my  awkwardness.  It  is  nobody's  busi- 
ness— except  Mr.  Falkirk's  and  mine.  But  you  know 
very  well  that  fact  is  no  bar  to  people's  tongues.  And 
sometimes  one  does  not  choose  to  give  them  the  mate- 
rial— and  sometimes  one  does  not  care.  My  question 
meant  only,  do  you  care  in  this  instance  ?  and  was  a 
practical  question.' 

'  What  do  you  mean  ? '  she  said,  quickly.  '  Say  out  all 
that  is  in  your  mind.  How  can  I  judge  of  it  by  inches/ 

4  You  have  not  enlightened  me,'  he  said,  '  and  /can 
judge  of  nothing.  Do  you  wish  to  get  home  without 
letting  anybody  know  you  have  been  out  ?  or  may  I  call 
Primrose  down  and  give  you  into  her  hands  to  be  taken 
care  of  ?  Surely  you  know  my  other  question  referred 
not  to  anything  but  the  impertinence  of  the  world  gen- 
erally.' 

'  O  !  I  will  go  home  ! '  she  said,  rising  up.  '  I  cannot 
see  anybody.  And  Mr.  Falkirk  ! — He  might  send  for 
me  ! ' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  is  fast  asleep,'  said  Rollo.  '  He  will 
have  concluded  that  you  were  kept  at  Mrs.  Merrick's. 
Sit  down  again,  and  rest,'  he  said,  gently  putting  her 
back  on  the  cushions,  (he  had  risen  when  she  rose) — 
'  we  are  not  ready  to  go  quite  yet.  You  must  take  breath 
first.  And  we  must  not  rouse  up  Chickaree  at  this 


MOONSHINE.  247 

hour.  If  you  were  known  to  have  staid  with  Miss  Mary- 
land— would  not  that  be  the  best  way  ? ' 

'  How  is  one  to  know  the  best,  where  all  are  bad  ? ' — • 
Hazel  rested  her  head  in  her  hands  and  sat  thinking. 

'  No,'  said  he  quietly — '  we'll  try  and  not  have  that 
true.  If  you  could  trust  me  with  the  story  of  the  eve- 
ning, I  might  be  able  to  judge  and  act  better  for  you.' 

'  Did  you  bring  me  here  that  I  might  not  get  home  at 
such  an  hour  ? '  she  said  suddenly,  looking  up. 

'  I  promised  to  tell  you  my  reasons.  Yes,  that  was 
one  of  them.  The  people  at  Chickaree  must  not  know 
of  your  coming  home  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  on 
foot.  If  I  take  you  home  at  a  fair  hour  in  the  morning, 
it  will  be  all  right.  Not  on  foot,'  said  he,  smiling.  He 
was  so  composed  and  collected,  that  his  manner  had 
everything  in  it  to  soothe  and  reassure  her.  Not  the 
composure  of  one  who  does  not  care,  but  of  one  who 
will  take  care. 

'  And  Mr.  Falkirk  would  say  the  same,' — she  spoke 
as  if  reasoning  the  matter  out  with  herself.  '  Then  1 
must  wait.  But  do  not  call  anybody.  Mayn't  I  sit 
here  just  quietly  by  myself  ?  ' 

'  Suppose  you  take  possession  of  one  of  Prim's  spare 
rooms,  and  astonish  the  family  at  breakfast  ?  All  you 
need  say  is  that  you  came  after  they  were  all  gone 
to  their  rooms.  Dr.  Maryland  will  never  seek  for  a 
reason.  And  Prim  will  never  ask  for  one.  But  if  you 
prefer  it,  I  will  take  you  home  before  they  are  up.' 

'  Just  as  you  please,'  she  answered  wearily  :  indeed 
weariness  was  fast  getting  the  upper  hand.  '  You  must 
want  rest,  I  should  think.  What  were  you  doing  there  ? ' 
she  asked  with  her  former  suddenness.  '  Were  you 
looking  for  me  ?  Did  you  know  where  I  was — not  ? ' 


248  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  No,5  he  said,  smiling  again,  '  I  had  been  to  Troy  to 
look  at  some  horses,  about  which  I  had  been  in  corre- 
spondence ;  and  wishing  to  be  here  to-morrow — that  is, 
to-day  ! — it  pleased  me  to  take  a  night  train  which  set 
me  down  at  Henderson ;  no  nearer  ;  I  was  walking 
across  country  to  get  home.  And  I  feel  as  if  I  never 
should  be  "  tired  "  again.  Come — you  can  have  some 
time  of  rest  at  least ;  and  I  will  carry  you  home  before 
or  after  breakfast,  just  as  you  please.' 

Upstairs  with  noiseless  footfalls — and  Rollo  reminding 
Wych  Hazel  which  was  Primrose's  room,  indicated  ano- 
ther close  by,  within  which  he  said  he  believed  she  would 
find  what  she  wanted.  That  room  was  always  kept  in  order 
for  strangers  ;  and  no  strangers  were  in  the  house  now. 

'  Primrose  will  come  to  you  in  the  morning,'  he  said, 
unless  you  wish  to  go  before  that  ?  ' 

'  Wych  Hazel  turned  and  held  out  her  hand. 

'  Thank  you  ! '  she  said.  Then  in  answer  to  his  last 
words — '  I  shall  be  ready  for  either.' 

Wherein,  however,  Miss  Kennedy  made  a  mistake. 
For  having  once  put  herself  down  on  the  fresh  white 
bed,  sleep  took  undisputed  possession  and  held  it 
straight  on.  Neither  rousing  bell  nor  breakfast  bell 
roused  her  ;  nor  opening  door — if  any  opened  ;  nor 
steps — if  any  came.  Sleep  so  profound  that  she  never 
turned  nor  stirred  nor  raised  her  cheek  from  the  hand 
where  first  she  laid  it  down.  And  the  sun  was  getting 
a  new  view  of  the  western  slopes  of  the  Chickaree 
woods,  before  the  young  mistress  thereof  sat  up  in  her 
strange  room  and  looked  about  her. 

'  Well,  you  are  awake  at  last !  '  cried  Prim,  bending  to 
kiss  her.  '  I  am  glad  !  though  I  was  glad  to  have  you 
sleep,  too.  How  tired  you  were !  ' 


MOONSHINE.  249 

Wych  Hazel  passed  her  hands  over  her  face  ;  but  the 
next  move  was  to  put  her  arms  round  Prim's  neck  and 
for  a  moment  her  head  on  Prim's  shoulder.  Then  she 
sprang  up  and  hurriedly  shook  her  dress  into  some  sort 
oi  order. 

'  O !  I  have  slept  a  great  deal  too  long,'  she  said. 

'  Why  ?  No,  you  hav£  slept  just  enough.  Now  you 
would  like  to  change  your  dress.  There  is  a  valise  full  of 
things  from  home  for  you.  And  when  you  are  ready 
you  shall  have  some  breakfast,  or  dinner,  or  tea,  just 
which  you  like  to  call  it.' 

Primrose  could  not  read  the  look  and  flush  that 
greeted  the  valise  ;  and  indeed  she  needed  an  entire 
new  dictionary  for  her  friend  this  day.  When  Hazel 
made  her  appearance  down  stairs,  hat  in  hand,  she  had 
more  things  in  her  face  than  Prim  had  ever  met,  even 
in  dreams.  Dr.  Maryland  was  not  there  ;  the  table  was 
spread  in  the  library,  where  the  afternoon  light  poured 
in  through  its  green  veil  of  branches  and  leaves  •  and 
Prim  gave  her  guest  a  new  greeting,  as  glad  as  if  she 
had  given  her  none  before. 

'  I'm  sure  of  having  you  hungry,  now,  Hazel,'  she  ex- 
claimed. '  I  didn't  know  what  was  best  to  give  you ; 
but  Duke  said  coffee  would  be  sure  to  be  right.' 

'  I  wonder  if  you  ever  suggest  anything  which  he  does 
not  think  is  "sure  to  be  right?"  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'  I  wonder  if  anybody  down  here  ever  makes  a  mistake 
of  any  sort  ? ' 

'  Mistakes  ?  oh  !  plenty,'  said  Primrose.  '  I  do  ;  and 
I  suppose  Duke  does.  I  don't  know  about  papa.  Now, 
dear  Hazel,  sit  down.  Duke  will  be  here  directly.' 

And  Primrose  cut  bread  and  poured  out  coffee  and 
supplied  her  guest,  in  a  sort  of  passion  of  hospitality. 


250  WYCH    HAZEL. 

To  say  that  the  guest  was  as  hungry  as  she  should 
have  been  after  such  a  fast,  would  be  perhaps  too  much  ; 
last  night  was  still  too  fresh  for  that ;  but  seventeen  has 
great  restorative  powers  at  command,  and  Prim's  coffee 
was  undeniably  good.  Hazel  grew  more  like  herself  as 
the  meal  went  on,  though  her  eyes  kept  their  tired  look, 
and  her  manner  was  a  trifle  abstracted.  But  Prim 
asked  no  questions ;  only  hovered  about  her  with  all 
sorts  of  affectionate  words  and  ways,  till  Rollo  came  in. 
He  sat  down  and  began  to  make  himself  generally  use- 
ful, in  his  wonted  manner. 

'  Duke,'  said  Primrose,  '  Miss  Kennedy  has  been  ask- 
ing me  if  we  ever  make  mistakes  in  this  house  ! ' 

'  What  did  you  tell  her  ? ' 

'Why  you  know  what  I  told  her.  I  am  not  sure 
about  papa ;  but  the  rest  of  us  don't  boast  of  infallible 
wisdom.' 

'  Do  you  mean  that  he  does  ? '  said  Duke,  drily.  At 
which  Primrose  laughed.  '  Have  you  been  asleep,  Miss 
Hazel  ? ' 

'  Beyond  reach  of  all  earthly  things.     Have  you  ? ' 

Rollo  remarked  that  he  never  got  so  far  as  that. 

'  No,'  said  Primrose,  '  I  never  saw  such  a  sleeper. 
He'll  be  sound  asleep,  sound  and  fast ;  not  dreaming 
nor  stirring  ;  and  if  there  comes  the  least  little  sound 
that  there  oughtn't  to  be,  he's  up  and  broad  awake  and 
in  possession  of  all  his  senses  in  a  minute.' 

'  How  do  you  know? '  said  the  subject  of  this  descrip- 
tion. 

'  I  know,'  said  Primrose.  '  Thunder  wouldn't  waken 
him  ;  and  the  turning  of  a  key  in  a  lock  would — suppose 
it  was  a  time  or  place  when  the  lock  ought  not  to  be 
turned.' 


MOONSHINE.  251 

'  Very  interesting  details  ! '  said  Rollo.  '  They  may 
be  useful  in  the  study  of  psychology — or  physiology. 
Which  is  your  favourite  study,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Whichever  will  throw  the  most  light  upon  this : 
Prim,  can  he  also  detect  "  the  least  little  sound  that 
oughtn't  to  be,"  when  there  is  none  at  all  ? '  said  Hazel 
thinking  of  last  night. 

'  No,  he  can't,'  said  Rollo,  shaking  his  head.  '  That's 
a  physiological  question.  But  here  is  one  in  psychology : 
Can  a  person  be  sensible  of  an  unknown  presence  when 
yet  there  is  none  ? ' 

'  Ah  ! '  she  said,  drawing  a  long  breath  and  growing 
grave  all  at  once,  '  I  wish  one  might  !  It  would  have 
been  a  comfort.' 

'  Well,'  said  he,  '  I  think  I  can  resolve  that  question.' 

'  Duke,  what  are  you  talking  of  ?  You  have  got  out 
of  philosophy  into  metaphysics,'  said  Prim. 

'  She  is  the  philosopher  of  the  family,'  said  Rollo,  b) 
way  of  explanation  to  Hazel.  '  But  she  has  made  a  mis- 
take. As  she  confesses  she  does  make  them,  I  may 
remark  that.' 

'  Why,  you  are  talking  of  perceiving  what  does  not 
exist ! '  cried  Prim. 

'  Is  that  what  you  call  metaphysics?  I  should  call  it 
nonsense.' 

'  I  never  supposed  you  were  talking  nonsense,  Duke. 

'  No,'  said  Duke.  "  That  would  be  a  mistake.  No, 
I  was  speaking,  Prim,  of  the  detection,  by  no  visible  or 
intelligible  means,  of  what  we  are  not  aware  has  exist- 
ence.' 

'  By  no  intelligible  means,' said  Prim.  'You  mean, 
knowing  a  person  is  coming,  that  you  have  not  heard  is 
coining — and  such  things  ? ' 


252  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  And  knowing  a  person  is  near,  who  you  had  thought 
was  very  far  off.' 

I  Yes,'  said  Prim  thoughtfully ;  '  I  know.     It  is  very 
curious.' 

'  Witches,  for  instance  ? '  said  Hazel,  with  perfect 
gravity. 

'  No,'  said  Prim  earnestly,  '  I  don't  mean  out-of-the- 
way  people  at  all ;  though  //  is  something  "  uncanny  " 
— as  it  seems  ; — queer  ;  I  have  heard  of  instances.' 

I 1  have  felt  them,'  said  Rollo. 

Primrose  went  into  a  brown  study  over  the  question. 

'  But  do  you  think,'  Rollo  went  on  gravely  address- 
ing Wych  Hazel,  '  that  this  sort  of  mental  action  can 
take  place  except  where  there  are  strong  sympathetic — 
or  other — relations  between  the  parties  ? ' 

'  So  that  the  magnet  finds  out  the  iron,  when  it  would 
pass  by  the  lead  ? — is  that  what  you  mean  ? ' 

A  significant,  quick,  keen  look ;  and  then  Rollo  said, 
very  gravely, 

'  But  it  strikes  me  we  have  got  the  thing  reversed. 
Is  it  not  rather  the  iron  that  finds  the  magnet  ?  ' 

'  The  magnet  must  be  conscious  too,'  said  Hazel. 
'  And  I  think  it  moves — where  the  iron  is  in  sufficient 
quantity.' 

'  It  would  be  a  poor  rule  that  wouldn't  work  both 
ways,'  said  Rollo,  with  dry  simplicity. 

'  What  are  you  talking  about  ? '  said  Primrose.  '  Do 
give  Hazel  some  more  raspberries.  I  am  inclined  to 
t';ink  this,  Duke — ' 

'Well?  ' 

'  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  in  those  cases  you  have 
been  speaking  of,  there  is  testimony  of  the  person's  pres- 
ence, only  it  is  in  some  such  little  slight  things  as  were 


MOONSHINE.  253 

insufficient  to  draw  attention  to  themselves,  and  only, 
by  natural  association  of  ideas,  suggested  the  person.' 

'What  do  you  think,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

But  she  shook  her  head. 

« If  you  go  off  to  people — I  should  say,  sometimes, 
that  could  not  be.' 

'  So  should  I,'  said  Rollo. 

'  Why  ? '  said  Primrose. 

'  I  cannot  find  in  my  consciousness,  or  memory,  any 
corroboration  of  your  theory.' 

'  I  think  I  can  in  mine.     Sometimes,  at  least. ' 

'  Those  are  not  my  times,'  said  Rollo. 

'  And  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,  too,'  said  Prim- 
rose, musing.  '  I  remember,  that  day  you  were  coming 
home,  I  had  not  the  least  reason  to  think  so,  and  yet 
you  were  in  my  mind  all  day.' 

'  What  is  your  explanation  then  ? '  said  he,  smiling  at 
her. 

Prim  was  not  ready  with  it  ;  and  before  she  was  ready 
to  speak  again,  Wych  Hazel  was  informed  that  her 
escort  was  at  her  sen-ice. 

Dr.  Maryland's  little  old  chaise  was  at  the  door. 
Rollo  put  Miss  Kennedy  in  it  and  took  the  reins.  It  was 
late  in  the  sweet  Summer  afternoon  ;  the  door  and  the 
road  and  the  fields  looked  exceedingly  unlike  the  same 
things  seen  in  shadow  and  moonlight  last  night.  Rollo 
never  referred  to  that,  however ;  he  was  just  as  usual ; 
took  care  that  Wych  Hazel  was  comfortably  seated,  and 
made  careless  little  remarks,  in  his  wonted  manner. 
Various  people  passed  them  ;  many  were  the  greetings, 
answered  for  the  most  part  very  sedately  by  the  young 
lady  of  Chickaree.  But  just  as  they  entered  the  out- 
skirts of  her  own  domain,  Rollo  felt  his  companion 


254  WYCH    HAZEL. 

shrink  towards  him  with  a  sudden  start.  Then  instant- 
ly she  sat  upright  in  her  place.  Two  or  three  horsemen 
were  in  sight,  at  different  distances ;  one,  the  nearest, 
was  a  stranger  to  Rollo.  A  remarkably  handsome  man, 
splendidly  mounted,  faultlessly  dressed  ;  riding  his  grey 
with  the  easy  grace  of  a  true  cavalier.  He  uncovered 
before  he  was  near  enough  to  do  more,  and  then 
bent  even  to  his  saddle-bow  before  Miss  Kennedy.  And 
to  him,  turning  full  upon  him,  did  Miss  Kennedy  ad- 
minister the  most  complete,  cool,  effectual  cut  that  Mr. 
Rollo  had  ever  seen  bestowed.  The  rider's  face  turned 
crimson  as  he  passed  on. 

Rollo  made  no  sort  of  remark ;  drove  gently,  let  the 
old  horse  come  to  a  walk ;  and  at  last,  throwing  himself 
back  into  the  corner  of  the  chaise,  so  as  to  have  a  bet- 
ter look  at  his  companion,  he  said  : 

'  Does  daylight  and  rest  make  a  difference,  and  are 
you  inclined  to  trust  me  with  the  explanation  of  what 
happened  last  night  ?  I  should  be  grateful.' 

He  could  see  now  with  what  extreme  effort  she  had 
done  her  work  of  execution^!  ip  and  chin  were  in  a 
tremor. 

'It  was  no  want  of  trust,  Mr.  Rollo — I  meant  you 
should  know.  But — I  could  not  tell  you  first,'  she  said 
rather  timidly.  '  I  thought,  perhaps,  you  would  take 
the  trouble  to  come  in  and  hear  me  tell  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  Thank  you,'  he  said,  '  I  am  grateful.'  And  no  more 
passed  on  the  subject  until  the  chaise  reached  the  cottage. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A    REPORT. 

JUST  glancing  round  at  her  companion  to  make  sure 
that  he  followed,  taking  off  her  hat  as  she  went,  Ha- 
zel passed  swiftly  into  the  cottage  and  into  Mr. 
Falkirk's  study,  to  the  foot  of  his  couch — and  there  stood 
still.  Very  unlike  the  figure  of  last  evening, — in  the 
simplest  pale  Summer  dress,  with  no  adornment  but  her 
brown  hair,  and  yet  as  Mr.  Falkirk  looked,  he  thought 
he  had  never  seen  her  look  so  lovely.  She  was  surely 
changing  fast ;  the  old  girlish  graces  were  taking  to 
themselves  the  richer  and  stronger  graces  of  woman- 
hood ;  and  like  those  evening  flowers  that  open  and 
unfold  and  gather  sweetness  if  you  but  turn  aside  for  a 
moment,  so  she  seemed  to  have  altered,  even  since  her 
guardian's  last  look.  The  broad  gipsy  hanging  from 
her  hand,  her  long  eyelashes  drooped, — so  she  stood. 
Mr.  Falkirk  looked  and  took  the  effect  of  all  this  in  a 
glance  two  seconds  long,  during  which,  something  held 
his  tongue.  Then  as  his  eye  caught  the  figure  that  en- 
tered following  her,  it  darted  towards  him  a  look  of  sud- 
den surprise  and  suspicion.  That  changed,  however, 
almost  as  soon,  and  his  eyes  came  back  to  his  ward. 
But  there  is  no  doubt  Mr.  Falkirk  scowled. 

'  So,  Miss  Hazel,'  he  began,  in  his  usual  manner,  'you 
found  you  could  not  manage  other  people's  carriages  last 
night  ? ' 


256  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Not  the  right  ones,  sir.  Will  you  ask  Mr.  Rollo  to 
sit  down,  Mr.  Falkirk  ?  It  is  due  to  me  that  he 
should  hear  all  I  have  to  say.' 

'  It  is  not  due  to  anybody  that  you  should  say  it  stand- 
ing,' said  Rollo,  wheeling  up  into  convenient  position 
the  easiest  chair  that  the  room  contained.  She  made 
him  a  slight  sign  of  acknowledgment,  but  yielded  only 
so  far  as  to  lay  her  hand  on  the  chair  back.  Prob- 
ably it  was  pleasant  to  touch  something.  Rollo  step- 
ped back  to  the  mantlepiece  and  stood  there,  but  not 
touching  it  or  anything. 

'  It  appears  to  me,  Miss  Hazel,'  said  the  recumbent 
master  of  the  house,  that  the  invitation  must  come  from 
you.' 

'  I  have  not  been  invited  myself,  sir,  yet.' 

'  I  do  not  recollect  inviting  you  to  be  seated  yester- 
day, my  dear  ;  is  to-day  different  from  yesterday  ? ' 

'  Unless  I  have  forgotten  the  frown  which  welcomed 
me  then,  sir.  I  suppose  you  have  but  a  faint  idea  of 
the  looming  up  of  your  brows  just  now.' 

'What? 'said  Mr.  Falkirk.  'Don't  you  know,  Miss 
Hazel,  a  man's  brows  are  not  within  his  range  of  vision  ? 
and  I  deny  that  he  is  responsible  for  them.  Am  I 
frowning  now  ? ' 

'  Not  quite  so  portentously,  sir.' 

'  Then  you  need  not  stand  so  particularly,  need  you  ? 
I  wonder,  if  I  looked  so  fierce,  how  Rollo  dared  to  offer 
you  the  civility  of  a  chair  in  my  presence  ;  but  people 
are  different.' 

'  But  I  cannot  sit  there,'  she  said,  with  a  glance  to- 
wards the  bringer  of  the  chair,  as  she  passed  by  its  re- 
poseful depths.  '  Not  now.  If  Mr.  Rollo  will  make 
himself  comfortable  in  his  own  way,  I  wil/  in  mine.'  And 


A    REPORT. 


257 


Hazel  brought  a  foot  cushion  to  the  couch  and  sat  down 
there  ;  a  little  turned  away  from  the  third  member  of 
the  party  ;  who  however  did  not  change  his  position. 

'  Is  there  business  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk  glancing  from 
one  to  the  other. 

The  girl  gave  him  a  swift  glance  of  wonder. 

'  You  used  to  think  it  was  business,  sir,  to  know  what 
had  become  of  me.  Did  you  sleep  well  last  night,  Mr. 
Falkirk  ? ' 

'  Why  should  I,  any  more  than  you  ? '  said  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk in  his  old  fashion  of  growling.  '  Day  is  the  proper 
time  for  sleeping,  in  the  fashionable  world.' 

It  made  her  restless — this  keeping  off  the  subject  of 
which  her  thoughts  were  full.  Didn't  he  mean  to  ask 
any  questions  ? 

'  Why  should  not  I  have  slept,  sir  ? — if  you  come  to 
that.  The  fashionable  world  was  not  to  hold  me  beyond 
eleven.' 

'So  I  understood,  and  endeavoured  to  stipulate,'  said 
Mr.  Falkirk,  'but  I  am  told  you  were  so  late  in  return- 
ing that  you  would  not  come  home,  and  preferred,  some- 
what inexplicably,  disturbing  Mrs.  Maryland  to  disturb- 
ing me.' 

'  Is  that  what  you  think  ? '  she  answered,  simply.  '  That 
1  broke  my  word  ?  Mr.  Falkirk,  I  began  returning  as 
you  say,  at  a  quarter  past  eleven.' 

'  I  never  expected  you  to  get  off  before  that,  my  dear. 
Then  what  was  the  matter  ? ' 

The  girl  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  one  of  her 
witch  looks  flashed  through  in  spite  of  even-thing. 

'  I  fell  into  Charybdis,  sir,  that  was  all.' 

'  I  do  not  remember  any  such  place  between  here  and 
Merricksdale,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Was  it  enchantment, 
17 


258  WYCH    HAZEL. 

my  dear  ? '  But  his  face  was  less  careless  than  his 
words.  Hers  grew  grave  again  at  once  ;  and,  wasting 
no  more  time,  Miss  Kennedy  addressed  herself  to  busi- 
ness. 

'  I  had  arranged  it  all  with  Miss  Bird,'  she  said,  '  on 
the  way  there.  She  had  a  headache  and  was  glad  of 
an  excuse  to  get  away  early.  It  was  "  a  small  party,"  I 
found,  when  you  were  in  the  house  and  the  rest  were  out 
of  doors,  but  otherwise  everybody  was  there — and  near- 
ly everybody  else.  The  trees  were  all  lights  and  flow- 
ers ;  and  supper  tables  stood  ready  from  the  first ;  and 
you  know  what  the  moon  was.  So  altogether,'  said  Miss 
Hazel,  '  it  was  hard  to  remember  anything  about  time, 
and  especially  to  find  out.  I  fancied  that  Mrs.  Merrick 
had  told  about  my  going  early, — watches  seemed  so  very 
uncertain,  and  so  many  of  them  had  stopped  at  nine 
o'clock.  It  was  only  by  a  chance  overhearing  that  I 
knew  when  it  was  half-past  ten.  I  lost  just  a  few  min- 
utes then,  manoeuvring,— for  I  did  not  want  "  everybody  " 
to  see  me  to  the  carriage  ;  but  when  I  had  vanished 
into  the  house,  and  found  Mrs.  Merrick,  Miss  Bird  was 
not  there.  She  had  gone  home  an  hour  before,  her  head 
being  worse,  they  said.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  said  nothing,  but  his  thick  brows  grew  to- 
gether again. 

'  Mrs.  Merrick  said  it  was  not  the  least  matter ;  her 
coachman  unfortunately  was  sick,  but  fifty  people  would 
be  only  too  happy.  I  said  everybody  but  me  wished  to 
stay  late, — O,  no,  not  at  all ! — here  was  Mr.  May,  goin£ 
in  five  minutes,  with  his  sister.  They  would  be  "  delight- 
ed." I '  could  not  well  tell  her,  sir,'  said  Wych  Ha- 
zel, with  a  look  at  her  guardian,  '  all  that  occurred  to  me 
in  the  connection,  but  I  suppose  I  negatived  Mr.  May  in 


A    REPORT.  259 

my  face,  for  Mrs.  Merrick  went  on.  '  Mr.  Morton,  then, — 
the  most  luxurious  coach  in  the  county."  He  too  was 
going  at  once — if  I  did.  Or,  if  I  did  not  mind  the  walk, 
her  brother-in-law  would  take  charge  of  me  at  any  mo- 
ment with  pleasure.' 

Certainly  Mr.  Falkirk  outdid  himself  in  scowling,  at 
this  point. 

'Well — I  must  get  home  somehow,'  she  said  with 
another  glance, — '  and  the  coach  would  never  do,  and 
the  phaeton  was  tabooed.  But  I  knew  Mrs.  Merrick's 
sister  was  Mrs.  Blake  ;  and  so,  thinking  of  the  old  doc- 
tor, I  said  at  once  that  I  would  walk,  and  ran  upstairs 
for  my  cloak.  And  then  I  found  out,'  said  Wych  Hazel 
slowly,  '  that  there  are  two  sorts  of  brothers-in-law.' 

Nobody  interrupted  her,  nor  spoke  when  she  paused. 
The  little  room  was  very  still,  except  from  the  move- 
ments the  girl  made  herself. 

'  This  was  the  wrong  one.  Not  old  doctor  Blake  at 
all,  but  a  younger  brother  of  Gen.  Merrick.  What 
could  I  do  ? '  she  said,  with  a  half  appealing  look  that 
went  for  a  second  further  than  her  guardian.  '  Already 
my  promise  was  in  peril  ;  and  there  was  Mr.  Morton 
beseeching  me  into  his  coach — and  I  could  not  get  up 
a  fuss.'  It  was  very  pretty  and  characteristic,  the  un- 
conscious way  in  which  she  brought  in — and  left  out— 
the  third  one  in  the  room.  Sometimes  forgetting  every- 
body but  her  guardian,  and  giving  him  details  that  were 
plainly  meant  for  his  ears  alone  ;  then,  with  a  sudden 
blush  and  stop,  remembering  that  there  was  another 
listener  standing  by.  On  such  occasions  she  would  gen- 
erally turn  her  face  a  little  more  away  and  out  of  sight, 
and  then  begin  again,  in  a  tone  that  meant  to  keep  clear 
of  all  further  special  confidences  in  that  direction.  The 


260  WYCH    HAZEL. 

third  member  of  the  party  stood  perfectly  still  and  made 
no  remark  whatever. 

'  Well  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  with  rather  a  short  breath, 
as  the  girl  paused. 

'  There  was  nothing  left  for  me  but  the  walk — unless 
a  fuss,  and  a  half  dozen  more  standing  round.  Then  Mr. 
Morton  said  he  should  walk,  too,  at  least  as  far  as  the 
cross-road,  and  let  the  carriage  follow  at  a  foot  pace  in 
case  I  should  turn  weary.  If  he  had  been  half  as  anx- 
ious about  my  weariness  as  he  professed,'  said  the  girl, 
with  a  curl  of  her  lips,  '  he  would  have  tried  how  fast 
his  horses  could  go  for  once,  with  him  behind  them. 
But  I  could  not  tell  him  that  any  plainer  than  I  did.' 
'  You  tried  to  make  him  drive  on  and  leave  you  ? '  said 
Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  I  tried  to  make  him  let  me  alone,  sir,'  said  the 
girl  flushing.  « As  to  the  way,  I  think  I  made  no  sug- 
gestions. So  we  walked  on,  and  Mr.  Morton  made 
himself  exceedingly — disagreeable,' 

'  Too  officious  ?  Or  too  presumptuous  ?  He's  an  ass  ! ' 
said  Mr.  Falkirk,  who  was  plainly  getting  restive. 
'Which,  Hazel  ?' 

'  Unbearable  I  called  it,  sir,  I  was  in  no  mood  for 
nice  definitions.  And  I  couldn't  have  been  tired  then 
if  we  had  walked  through  the  moonlight  straight  on  to 
the  moon !  But — I  had  been  lectured  so  much  about 
self-control'  (an  invisible  glance  went  here)  'that, 
somehow,  he  seemed  to  keep  his  patience  the  better, 
the  more  I  lost  mine.  I  never  remember  your  telling  me, 
sir,  that  my  wilful  moods  were  particularly  becoming, 
but  I  began  to  think  it  must  be  so ;  and  actual- 
ly thought  of  trying  a  little  complaisance.'  Whereat, 
Miss  Hazel  brought  herself  to  a  sudden  stop^ 


A    REPORT.  26l 

'  My  dear ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  'What  was  the  other  map 
about.' 

'  He  was  walking  on  the  other  side,'  said  Hazel,  hei 
voice  changing.  '  But  he  left  me  to  Mr.  Morton,  ir. 
effect,  and  scarcely  said  three  words  all  this  time.  I 
trusted  his  thoughts  were  too  busy  with  Miss  Powder,  to 
notice  what  went  on  near  by.' 

'  This  is  what  comes  of  what  you  erroneously  term 
dancing  on  the  branches  of  trees  ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  in 
a  great  state  of  disgust.  '  But  I  have  no  idea  I  should 
have  gone  to  that  woman's  if  I  had  been  free.  More 
comes  of  it  than  I  reckoned  upon,  or  than  six  weeks  will 
see  me  through.  Well,  you  got  rid  of  him  at  last,  I  sup- 
pose ;  and  walked  all  the  way  to  Dr.  Maryland's  in  your 
slippers  ! 

'  My  dear  Mr.  Falkirk  ! — slippers  at  an  out-door  party  ! 
Yes,  I  "got  rid  of  him,"  as  you  say,  when  we  reached 
the  turning  to  Morton  Hollow,'  Hazel  went  on,  rather 
slowly,  the  shadow  coming  into  her  tone  again.  'And 
then,  after  that,  I  found  out  why  my  other  companion  had 
been  so  silent.' 

'Found  out  !     He  had  not  been  taking  too  much  ? ' 

'  I  told  you  tfte  supper  tables  stood  ready  all  the 
evening,'  said  the  girl,  sinking  her  voice ;  '  and — it  was 
plain — now — what  he  had  found  there.' 

The  silence  now,  rather  than  any  words,  bade  her  go 
on.  She  caught  her  breath  a  little,  mastering  her  ex- 
citement. 

'  I  knew,  presently,  what  I  must  do.  And  when. 
You  have  told  me,  sir,  sometimes,  that  I  was  too  hasty 
to  resolve  and  to  do, — I  had  to  be  both  now.' 

'  What  did  you  do  ? '  said  her  guardian. 

'  I  must  get  away.     And  on  the  instant.     For,  just  be- 


262  WYCH    HAZEL. 

yond,  the  woods  ceased,  and  there  was  a  long  stretch  of 
open  road.  I  thought,  in  that  second,  that  my  cloak 
might  be  caught.  So,  with  my  free  hand,  I  unfastened 
it — I  don't  know  how  I  ever  did  it!'  said  the  girl,  ex- 
citedly, '  unless,  as  Byo  says,  mamma's  prayers  were 
round  me  ! — but  I  slipped  the  cloak  from  my  shoulders 
and  tore  away  my  other  hand,  and  sprang  into  the 
woods.' 

They  could  almost  hear  her  heart  beat,  as  she  sat 
there. 

'  Into  the  woods  alone  ! '  cried  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Then 
— Go  on,  my  dear,'  he  said,  his  voice  falling  into  great 
gentleness. 

'  Things  came  so  fast  upon  me  then  ! '  she  said  with  a 
shiver.  '  I  had  said,  in  that  moment,  "  I  can  but  try," — 
and  now  I  felt  that  if  you  try — some  things — you  must 
succeed.  To  fail,  then,  would  be  just  a  game  of  hide- 
and-seek.  That  was  the  first  thought.  I  must  keep 
ahead,  if  it  killed  me.  And  then — instantly — I  knew 
that  to  do  that  I  must  not  run  ! ' — 

'  What  did  you  do  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

1 1  might  not  be  the  fastest ;  and,  if  I  ran,  I  should 
maybe  not  know  just  where — he — was, — nor  when  the 
pursuit  was  given  up.  I  must  pass  from  shadow  to  sha- 
dow ;  moving  only  when  he  moved ;  keeping  close  watch  ; 
until  he  got  tired  and  went  back.' 

Hazel  leaned  her  head  on  her  hands,  as  if  the  mere 
recollection  were  all  she  could  bear. 

'  My  dear ! ' — exclaimed  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Did  you  keep 
up  this  game  long  ?  ' 

'  I  do  not  know,  sir,'  she  said,  wearily  ;  '  it  seemed — ' 
she  stopped  short, — then  went  on  : 

'  I  knew  my  dress  was  dark  enough  to  pass  notice  ; 


A    REPORT.  263 

and  as  softly  as  I  could  I  rolled  up  my  white  cloak  and 
took  off  my  gloves,  lest  any  chance  light  might  fall  on 
them.  My  steps  were  steady — the  others  not  :  so  far  I 
had  the  advantage.  Several  times  I  heard  my  name — • 
I  think  the  surprise  must  have  sobered  him  a  little,  for  he 
called  to  me  that  that  was  not  the  road.  But  how  long  it 
went  on,  I  cannot  tell.' 

'  Till  he  gave  it  up  ?  ' 

'  Yes.  At  last,  I  saw  him  go  back  to  the  road,  and 
heard  his  tread  there,  turning  back  the  way  we  had  come. 
Past  me.  And  again  I  had  to  wait.  Only  I  crept  to  the 
edge  of  the  trees,  where  I  could  see  far  down  the  moon- 
light, and  watch  the  one  moving  shadow  there,  that  it 
did  not  turn  off  again  among  the  shadows  where  I  stood. 
And  then  I  began  to  think  I  could  not  go  on  towards 
home  along  that  open  stretch  before  me, — for  at  least  a 
mile  there  were  only  fields  and  fences  on  either  hand.  I 
had  noticed  it  when  we  drove  along  in  the  evening.  I 
could  not  go  back  towards  Mrs.  Merrick's.  Then  I  re- 
membered, in  my  ride  upon  Vixen,  finding  a  short  cut 
from  this  road  to  one  from  Dr.  Maryland's.  And  I 
thought  if  I  could  once  get  to  that,  I  should  find  unbro- 
ken woodland,  where  I  could  pass  along  unseen.  For 
that,  however,  I  must  cross  the  road — in  the  full,  clear 
light.  And  what  that  was  ! — 

'  But  I  went  safe,'  she  began  again,  '  and  reached  the 
shadows  on  the  other  side  before  there  came  sounds  upon 
the  road  once  more,  and  the  full  stream  of  late  people 
began  to  come  rattling  down  from  Merricksclale.' 

'  Yes  ! ' — Mr.  Fal kirk's  word  was  rather  breathless. 

'  At  first,  when  I  saw  the  first  carriage,  I  thought  I 
would  speak  and  claim  protection.  But  that  held  only 
men.  And  then  came  others  on  foot — and  some  that  I 


264  WYCH    HAZEL. 

knew.  And  it  seemed  to  me,  that  instead  of  speaking  I 
almost  shrank  into  a  shadow  myself.  And  when  there 
came  a  little  interval,  so  that  I  dared  move,  I  sprang  away 
again,  and  went  through  the  woods  as  fast  as  I  could  go, 
and  go  softly.  The  belt  is  not  broad  there,  I  suppose,'  she 
said  after  another  pause  ;  '  and  I  reached  the  other  road 
and  went  on  a  while  in  the  darkness,  along  the  edge. 
But  I  think  by  this  time  I  must  have  been  tired,  I  grew 
so  suddenly  trembling  and  unsteady.  And  the  night 
was  so  still,  and  yet  I  seemed  to  hear  steps  everywhere. 
I  could  not  bear  it  any  longer  ;  and  I  thought  I  would 
just  be  quiet  and  wait  for  the  day.  Only — so  far  my 
wits  served  me  yet — I  must  once  more  cross  the  road  ;  for 
the  moon  was  sinking  westward  now,  and  the  level  rays 
came  in  about  my  feet.' 

'  I  thought  I  could  not  do  it  at  first,'  she  said,  with  a 
voice  that  told  more  than  the  words, — 'go  out  into  that 
stream  of  light ;  but  then  I  did  ;  and  hid  myself  in  the 
branches  of  a  great  hemlock,  and  waited  there. 

'  And  then  I  found  Mr.  Rollo, — and  I  knew  that  I 
might  trust  him.' 

With  which  most  unconscious  full-sized  compliment, 
the  girl  crossed  her  arms  upon  her  lap,  and  laid  her 
face  down  upon  them,  and  was  still. 

'  How  did  she  find  you  ? '  demanded  Mr.  Falkirk 
with  unceremonious  energy.  The  answer  was  in  an  un- 
dertone : 

'  I  found  her.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  was  silent  again. 

'  No,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  without  raising  her  head,  and 
again  not  stopping  to  measure  her  words.  '  You  would 
have  stood  there  till  this  time,  if  I  had  not  spoken  ! ' 

'  Would  I  ? '  said  Rollo. 


A    UKI'OKT.  J(»i; 

*  And  how  came  you  to  be  there  at  all  at  that  time  <>i 
night  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'On  my  way  from  the  cars.' 

'  Cars,  where  ? ' 

'  Henderson.' 

'Walk  from  Henderson!'  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  Save  time.  I  wanted  to  be  here  to  d;iv.'  Tin-  an 
swers  were  all  short  and  grave,  as  a  man  speak',  who 
has  no  words  that  he  wants  to  say. 

'And  Mr.  Rollo  thought,'  said  I  la/el,  looking  up, 
'that  it  was  better  for  me  to  rome  home  from  |)i.  Mary 
land's  than  from  the  woods.  And  -when  he  •>|)ol-.e  of  ii 
— I  supposed  you  would  say  that  too,  Mr.  Fa ll-.ii  !••..' 

But  Mr.  Falkirk  vouchsafed  no  corroboralion  of  ilii  , 
opinion. 

'Did  I  do  well,  sir?'  she  said  a  little  <-a;'eily,  |,ul 
meaning  now  the  whole  night's  work.  '  J>i<l  I  do  ill  ' 
Was  I  a  bit  like  your  old  ideal — "  a  woman  "  and 
"brave"?  Or  was  I  only  a  girl,  and  very  fooli-.h  ."  ' 
They  were  so  silent,  these  men  ! — it  trier!  her.  J>id  ih'-v, 
in  their  worldly  wisdom,  see  any  better  way  out.  of  l»  r 
hard  places,  than  her  seventeen  years'  inexperience  had 
found,  at  such  a  cost?  The  brown  eye->  looked  v:ar'.h 
ingly  at  Mr.  Falkirk,  and  again  for  an  infant  went 
beyond  him  to  Mr.  Rollo. 

'  Answer,  Mr.  P'alkirk  1'  said  the  younger  man. 

'  My  dear,'  said  Wych  Hazel's  guardian,  '  if  I  had  rx;':n 
a  quarter  as  much  a  man  as  you  have  proved  yourvrlf  a 
woman,  your  bravery  never  would  have  been  so  tried.' 

'  And  the  bravery  was  as  much  as  the  womanliness  '.  ' 
said  the  other,  in  the  short,  terse  way  of  all  his  words 
this  afternoon  ;  no  air  of  compliment  whatever  hanging 
about  the  words. 


266  WYCH   HAZEL. 

She  answered  with  only  a  deep  flush  of  pleasure,  and 
eyes  that  went  down  now,  and  a  smile  just  playing 
round  the  corners  of  her  mouth — the  first  that  had  been 
there  that  afternoon.  It  may  be  remarked  that  there 
was  no  pleasure  in  either  of  the  other  faces. 

'  Who  knows  about  this  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  suddenly. 

'  Nobody,'  said  Rollo. 

'  Not  Miss  Maryland  ? ' 

'  I  could  answer  for  her ;  but  she  knows  nothing.' 

Wych  Hazel  looked  up,  listening.  It  was  interesting 
to  hear  somebody  else  talk  now.  Talk  was  stayed,  how- 
ever. Both  men  were  thinking ;  their  thoughts  did  not 
run  easily  into  spoken  words.  Or  not  while  she  was 
present ;  for  after  a  sudden  excursion  up  stairs  to  see 
what  notes  and  messages  might  need  attention,  on  re- 
turning she  found  the  two  deep  in  talk ;  Rollo  seated 
near  the  head  of  Mr.  Falkirk's  couch,  and  bending  to- 
wards him.  He  sprang  up  as  Wych  Hazel  came  in  and 
took  leave ;  shaking  Mr.  Falkirk's  hand  cordially  and 
then  clasping  Wych  Hazel's.  For  the  first  time  then  a 
gleam  of  his  usual  gay  humour  broke  on  his  lips  and  in 
his  eye,  as  he  said  softly  : 

'  I  should  have  made  you  speak  before  that ! ' 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

KITTY    FISHER. 

NOTHING  but  the  most  superb  propriety  was  to  be 
expected  at  Mrs.  Powder's  ;  nevertheless  Wych 
Hazel  went  escorted  by  Prim  and  Rollo  in  Dr.  Mary- 
land's rockaway.  Dr.  Maryland  himself  had  been  per- 
suaded to  the  dinner,  and  it  was  on  his  arm  Miss  Ken- 
nedy made  her  entrance  upon  the  company.  Something 
unlike  anything  the  doctor  had  ever  taken  charge  of 
before, — in  a  dress  of  tea-rose  colour  this  time,  and  with 
only  tea-roses  for  trimming. 

It  was  not  a  large  company  assembled  for  dinner, 
though  everybody  was  expected  in  the  evening.  This 
was  a  different  affair  from  Merricksdale  ;  an  old  proud 
family  name  in  the  mistress  of  the  mansion  ;  old  fash- 
ioned respectability  and  modern  fashion  commingled  in 
the  house  and  entertainment ;  the  dinner  party  very 
strictly  chosen.  Beyond  that  fact,  it  was  not  perhaps  re- 
markable. After  dinner  Dr.  Maryland  went  home  ;  and 
gayer  and  younger  began  to  pour  in.  Following  close 
upon  Mrs.  Merrick's  entertainment,  this  evening  too  had 
the  adornment  of  the  full  moon  ;  and  as  this  party  also  was 
an  out-door  one,  as  much  as  people  chose  to  have  it  so, 
the  adornment  was  material.  A  large  pleasure  ground 
around  the  house,  half  garden,  half  shrubbery,  was  open  to 
promenaders  ;  and  at  certain  points  there  were  lights  and 
seats  and  music  and  refreshments  ;  the  last  two  not 


268  WYCH    HAZEL.     * 

necessarily  together.  On  this  pleasure  ground  opened  the 
windows  of  the  drawing  room  and  to  this  led  the  steps  of 
the  piazza  ;  and  so  it  came  to  pass  in  the  course  of  the 
evening  that  the  house  was  pretty  well  deserted  of  all  but 
the  elderly  part  of  the  guests. 

In  this  state  of  things,  said  elderly  portion  of  the  com- 
pany might  as  well  be  at  home  for  all  the  care  they  are 
able  to  bestow  on  the  younger.  Wandering  in  shadow 
and  light,  in  and  out  through  the  winding  walks,  blend- 
ing in  groups  and  scattered  in  couples,  the  young  friends 
of  Mrs.  Powder  did  pretty  much  as  they  pleased.  But 
one  thing  Wych  Hazel  had  cause  to  suspect  as  the  even- 
ing wore  on,  that  though  her  guardian  proper  was  fast- 
at-home,  she  had  an  active  actual  guardian  much  nearer 
to  her,  and  in  fact  never  very  far  off  for  long  at  a  time. 
Indeed  he  paraded  no  attentions,  either  before  Wych 
Hazel's  eyes  or  the  eyes  of  the  public  ;  but  if  she  want- 
ed anything,  Rollo  found  it  out ;  if  she  needed  anything, 
he  was  at  hand  to  give  it.  His  care  did  not  burden  her, 
nor  make  itself  at  all  conspicuous  to  other  people ;  nev- 
ertheless she  surely  could  not  but  be  conscious  of  it. 
This  by  the  way. 

Dr.  Maryland  had  not  been  gone  long  ;  the  new  arri- 
vals were  just  pouring  in  ;  when  a  seat  beside  Wych  Hazel 
was  taken  by  Mr.  Nightingale. 

'You  Mere  at  Merricksdale  the  other  night?'  He 
said  after  the  first  compliments. 

'  Yes,  for  a  while.' 

'  I  knew  you  would  be.  I  was  in  despair  that  I  could 
not  get  there  ; — but  engagements — contretemps — held 
us  fast.  I  see  now  how  much  I  lost.' 

'  Then  you  are  released  from  imaginary  evils, — that 
must  be  a  comfort.' 


KITTY   FISHER.  269 

'  Do  you  know,'  said  Stuart,  '  I  think  the  toilet  is  a 
fine  art  ? ' 

She  did  not  answer,  looking  at  two  or  three  somewhat 
remarkable  specimens  of  the  art  that  just  then  swept 
by. 

'  Who  is  Miss  Fisher,  Mr.  Nightingale  ? '  she  asked 
suddenly. 

*O  don't  you  know  Kitty?  To  be  sure,  she  has  just 
come.' 

'  No,  I  do  not  know  her.     May  I  know  who  she  is  ? ' 

'  Not  to  know  her,  argues — Well,  it  isn't  so  extreme  a 
case  as  that.  Miss  Fisher,  for  character,  is  the  most 
amiable  of  persons;  for  accomplishments,  she  can  do 
everything;  for  connections,  (do  you  always  want  to 
know  people's  connections  ?)  she  is  a  niece,  I  believe,  of 
Dr.  Maryland's.' 

'  Of  Dr.  Maryland's  ! — O  that  is  good,'  said  Wych 
Hazel.  '  Is  she  like  Primrose  ? ' 

'  She  is  more — like — a  purple  snap  dragon,'  said  Stu- 
art, reflectively.  '  Do  you  read  characters  in  flowers  ? 
and  then  look  out  for  their  moral  prototypes  in  the  social 
world  ? ' 

•     '  I  do  not  believe  I  ever  had  the  credit  of  "  looking 
out  "  for  anything  ! — Good  evening,  Mr.  Simms.' 

'  "  It  was  the  witching  hour  of  night !  " — quoted  Mr. 
Simms  with  a  deprecating  gesture.  '  Really,  Miss 
Kennedy,  I  do  not  see  why  the  story  books  make  it  out 
such  a  misfortune  for  a  man  to  be  turned  to  stone.  I 
think,  in  some  circumstances,  it  is  surely  the  best  thing 
that  can  happen  to  him.  There  is  Nightingale,  now — he 
would  feel  no  end  better  for  a  slight  infusion  of  silica  !' — • 
and  with  another  profound  reverence,  Mr.  Simms  moved 
off. 


270  WYCH   HAZEL. 

'  I  should  like  to  see  the  philosopher  that  would  man 
an  infusion  of  silica  ! '  muttered  Stuart.     '  He's  never 
drunk  it.     What  is  the  use  of  poets  in  the  world,  Miss 
Kennedy  ? ' 

'To  furnish  people  with  quotations — as  a  general 
thing,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Precisely  my  idea.  And  that's  stupid,  for  people 
don't  want  them.  It  looks  bright  out  among  Mrs.  Pow- 
der's bushes — shall  we  go  and  try  how  it  feels  ? ' 

It  was  pretty,  and  pleasant.  Moonlight  and  lamps  do 
make  a  witching  world  of  it ;  and  under  the  various 
lights  flitted  such  a  multitude  of  gay  creatures  that  Mr. 
Falkirk's  favourite  allusion  to  Enchanted  ground  would 
have  been  more  than  usually  appropriate.  All  the 
colours  in  the  rainbow,  gleaming  by  turns  in  all  possible 
alternations  and  degrees  of  light  and  shadow ;  a  moving 
kaleidoscope  of  humanity ;  the  eye  at  least  was  enter- 
tained. And  Stuart  endeavoured  to  find  entertainment 
for  the  ear  of  his  companion.  They  wandered  up  and 
down,  in  and  out  ;  not  meeting  many  people  ;  in  the 
changing  lights  it  was  easy  to  miss  anybody  at  pleasure. 
In  the  course  of  the  walk  Stuart  begged  for  a  ride  with 
Miss  Kennedy,  again  negatived  on  the  plea  that 
Miss  Kennedy's  horses  were  not  yet  come.  Stuart 
immediately  besought  to  be  allowed  to  supply  that  want 
for  the  occasion.  His  aunt  had  a  nice  little  Canadian 
pony. 

'  I  cannot  tell,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  gaily.  '  You  know 
I  must  ask  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  You  do  not  mean  that  ? '  said  Stuart. 

'  Why  of  course  I  mean  it.' 

'  Is  it  possible  you  are  in  such  bondage  ?  But  by  the 
way,  there  is  going  to  be  some  singing  presently,  which 


KITTY    FISHER.  271 

I  think  you  will  like.  '  I  have  been  counting  upon  it  foi 
you.' 

'  Is  there  ? '  she  said, — '  where  ?  You  are  right  in  the 
fact,  Mr.  Nightingale,  but  quite  wrong  as  to  terms.  I 
mean,  the  terms  give  a  false  impression  of  the  fact. 
Where  is  the  music  to  be,  Mr.  Rollo  ? '  For  Rollo,  prow- 
ling about  in  the  shrubbery,  had  at  the  moment  joined 
them.  He  answered  rather  absently,  that  he  believed  it 
was  to  be  in  the  garden. 

'  Do  you  understand,  Mr.  Nightingale  ? ' — Wych  Hazel 
resumed,  turning  to  her  other  companion — '  that  is  a 
mistake.' 

'  Can  you  prove  it  ?  But  apropos,  I  am  right  in  sup- 
posing that  you  are  fond  of  music  ?  That  is  true,  isn't 
it?' 

'  Very  true  !  ' — But  she  was  thinking. — '  Mr.  Rollo, 
how  can  you  always  say  what  you  mean,  without  saying 
what  you  do  not  mean  ? '  she  asked  suddenly. 

'  Choose  your  audience,'  said  Rollo. 

'  I  like  to  say  what  I  mean  to  anybody  ! ' 

'  It  is  a  great  luxury.  But  the  corresponding  luxury 
of  being  understood,  is  not  always  at  command.  Have 
you  been  puzzling  Mr.  Nightingale?'  he  asked  in  an 
amused  voice. 

'  Only  presenting  my  ideas  wrong  end  first,  as  usual. 
Is  Miss  Fisher  here  to-night  ? — and  do  you  like  her,  Mr. 
Rollo  ?  ' 

'  Miss  Fisher  ? — Kitty  ? — I  have  not  seen  her  since  I 
came  home  from  Europe.  But  there  is  Prim.  I  must  go 
and  take  care  of  her.' 

He  disappeared.  The  walk  and  talk  of  the  two  others 
was  prolonged,  until  faint  sweet  notes  of  wind  instru 
ments  from  afar  called  them  to  join  the  rest  of  the  world. 


272  WYCH    HAZEL. 

There  was  quite  a  little  company  gathered  at  this 
point,  a  small  clearing  in  the  shrubbery  around  one  side 
of  which  seats  were  placed.  Here  the  music  lovers  (and 
some  others)  were  ranged,  in  a  tiny  semi-circle,  half  in 
shadow,  half  in  light,  as  the  lamps  and  moonbeams 
served.  The  light  came  clear  upon  half  the  little  spot 
of  greensward;  glittered  on  leaves  and  branches  beyond, 
glanced  on  the  tops  of  trees  higher  up.  A  lively  chitter- 
chatter  was  going  on,  after  the  fashion  of  such  compa- 
nies, when  Wych  Hazel  came  up,  but  a  moment  after  the 
first  notes  of  the  music  struck  their  ears,  and  all  was  as 
hushed  as  the  moonlight  itself.  Only  the  notes  of  the 
harmony  floated  in  and  out  through  the  trees  ;  nothing 
else  moved. 

Mrs.  Powder  had  managed  to  secure  some  good 
musical  talent,  for  the  performance  was  of  excellent 
quality.  Perhaps  summer  air  and  moonbeams  helped 
the  effect.  At  any  rate,  the  first  performance,  a  duet 
between  a  flute  and  a  violin,  was  undoubtedly  listened 
to ;  and  that  is  saying  much.  The  performers  were 
out  of  sight.  Then  a  fine  soprano  voice  followed,  in  a 
favorite  opera  air. 

Wych  Hazel  was  seated  near  one  end  of  the  semi-cir- 
cle, with  Primrose  just  behind  her ;  both  of  them  in 
shadow.  Rollo  had  been  standing  in  the  full  light  just 
before  them  ;  but  during  the  singing  he  was  beckoned 
away  and  the  spot  was  clear.  In  two  minutes  more 
Stuart  Nightingale  had  brought  a  camp  chair  to  Wych 
Hazel's  side.  He  was  quiet  till  the  song  was  over  and 
the  little  gratified  buzz  of  voices  began.  Under  this 
cover  he  spoke  low — 

'  Have  you  two  guardians,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'  One  has  answered  all   my  purposes  hitherto, '  she 


KITTY    FISHER.  273 

answered   with  a  laugh.      '  Do   I   seem  to   need   an- 
ether  ?  ' 

'  Seem  to  have  another.  Pardon  me.  Do  you  like  to 
be  taken  care  of  ? '  He  spoke  in  her  own  tone. 

'  By  myself — best !  If  I  must  speak  the  truth.' 
'  Ah,  I  thought  so  !  who  else  can  do  it  so  well  ?  A  fine 
woman  needs  no  other  control  then  her  own.    Am  I  to  be 
disappointed  of  that  ride  ? '  He  was  speaking  very  softly. 

'Well,  I  will  prefer  my  request,'  said  Hazel.  '  I  wish 
I  could  say  yes,  at  once.  But  how  shall  I  let  you  know  ? ' 

Prim's  hand  touched  her  shoulder  at  this  instant,  for 
delicious  notes  of  two  voices  stole  upon  the  air  from  the 
hiding  place  of  Mrs.  Powder's  troup.  The  lady's  voice 
they  had  heard  before  ;  it  was  one  of  great  power  and 
training,  and  it  came  now  mingling  with  a  sweet  full  bass 
voice.  There  was  no  more  talking  until  the  music  end- 
ed. It  was  a  fine  bit  from  a  German  opera. 

'  How  do  you  like  that  ? '  Stuart  asked. 

Hazel  drew  a  deep  breath.  '  Can  you  tell  how  you 
like  things  ? '  she  said. 

'  Yes  ! '  said  Stuart.  '  After  we  get  that  ride  I  am 
talking  of,  I'll  tell  you  how  I  liked  it.  By  the  way,  I 
will  do  myself  the  honour  to  be  the  receiver  of  your  an- 
swer concerning  it.  But  this  pleasure — no, — yes,  I  do 
know  why  I  enjoy  it ;  but  it  is  not  because  the  voices 
are  fine  or  the  music  expressive.  Can  you  guess  ? 

'  Not  for  the  music,  and  not  for  the  voices  ! '  said  the 
girl  looking  at  him. 

'  A  puzzle,  isn't  it  ? '  said  Stuart.  '  No  ;  the  music  ex- 
presses nothing  to  me — this  sort  of  music  ;  and  voices 
are  voices — but — I  care  only  for  voices  that  I  know.' 

Another  little  word  of  warning  from  Prim  behind  her, — 
O  Hazel,  listen  ! ' — prevented  any  reply  ;  and  Stuart's. 
18 


274  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'Yes,  this  is  something,  now,' — made  it  unnecessary.  And 
the  singing  would  have  made  it  impossible.  A  man's 
voice  alone  ;  the  same  rich,  full,  sweet  bass  ;  in  the  ballad 
of  the  "  Three  Fishers."  Whether  Mr.  Nightingale  had 
divined  that  somebody  was  near  who  knew  Wych  Hazel, 
or  merely  acted  on  general  prudential  motives,  he  left 
his  seat  and  stood  a  little  apart  while  the  ballad  was 
sung. 

'  Do  you  like  that  ? '  Primrose  whispered. 

'The  voice — not  the  ballad.' 

'  Nor  I  either,'  said  Prim.  '  I  don't  see  what  he  sings 
it  for.' 

There  was  but  a  moment's  interval,  and  then  the 
same  voice  began  another  strain,  so  noble,  so  deep,  so 
thrilling,  that  every  breath  was  held  till  it  had  done. 
The  power  of  the  voice  came  out  in  this  strain  ;  the 
notes  were  wild,  pleading,  agonizing,  yet  with  slow,  sweet 
human  melody.  The  air  thrilled  with  them  ;  they  seem- 
ed to  float  off  and  lose  themselves  through  the  woods ; 
sadly,  grandly,  the  song  breathed  and  fell  and  ceased. 
Wych  Hazel  did  not  speak  nor  stir,  nor  look,  except  on 
the  ground,  even  when  the  last  notes  had  died  away. 
Only  her  little  hands  held  each  other  very  close,  her 
cheek  resting  on  them. 

'  Yes,  I  know,'  said  Primrose  softly.  '  That  is  Handel.' 

Stuart  Nightingale  presently  slid  back  to  his  seat  ; 
and  now  there  came  a  stir ;  the  music  was  discontinued. 
In  a  few  minutes  Rollo  came  bringing  refreshments ; 
Mr.  Nightingale  bestirred  himself  in  the  same  cause  ; 
and  presently  they  were  all  eating  ices  and  fruits.  At 
which  juncture  Miss  Josephine  joined  herself  to  the 
party,  with  one  or  two  more  of  her  sort,  while  several 
gentlemen  began  to  "  fall  in,"  behind  Miss  Kennedy. 


KITTY   FISHER.  275 

'  Did  you  have  a  good  time  at  Merricksdale  ? '  Jose> 
phine  asked. 

'  Not  better  than  usual,'  Hazel  answered. 

'  Danced,  didn't  you  ?  I  wanted  mamma  to  have 
dancing  to-night,  and  she  wouldn't.  She's  so  awfully 
slow  !  O  Mr.  Rollo,  do  you  like  dancing  ? ' 

'On  anything  but  my  own  feet,'  said  Rollo. 

'  Anything  but  your  own  feet  ?  How  can  you  dance 
on  anything  but  your  own  feet  ? ' 

'  My  horse's  feet  ?  Or  what  do  you  think  of  a  good 
yacht  and  a  good  breeze  ? ' 

'Horrid!  I  never  want  to  be  in  one.  And  ;/<?;/ V  you 
like  dancing?  O  why?  Don't  you,  Miss  Kennedy? 
don't  you,  Mr.  Nightingale  ? ' 

'  Depends  on  the  dance,'  said  Stuart.  '  And  on  my 
partner.' 

'  O  it  don't  signify  what  partner  you  have.  In  fact, 
you  dance  with  everybody,  you  know.  That  is  the  best 
fun.  Don't  you  like  the  German,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'  Not  with  everybody,'  said  Miss  Kennedy,  thinking  of 
possible  partners. 

'  O  but  you  must,  you  know,  in  the  German — and  that's 
the  fun.  I  don't  think  anything  else  is  fun.  Of  course 
the  people  are  all  proper.  Don't  you  like  the  German, 
Mr.  Rollo?' 

'  I  do  not  dance  it.' 

'7v7>/?  Don't  you?  O  why?  You  do  dance,  I  know, 
for  I've  seen  you  ;  you  waltz  like  a  German,  a  man,  I 
mean.  Why  don't  you  dance  the  German  ? ' 

'  How  does  a  German — a  man,  I  mean — waltz,   Miss 
Phinney  ?     as  distinguished   from  other  nationalities? 
Stuart  asked. 

'  O,  different.' 


276  WYCH   HAZEL. 

'  Wont  you  tell  us  in  what  way  ?  This  is  interesting.' 

'  It  wont  help  you,'  said  Josephine  ;  '  and  you  dance 
well,  besides.  A  German  waltzes  slow  and  elegantly.' 

'  And  other  people  ? ' — 

'  You  may  laugh,  but  it's  true ;  I've  noticed  it.  An 
Englishman  sways  and  a  Frenchman  spins,  but  a  Ger- 
man floats.  O  it's  just  delicious  !  Why  dont  you  dance 
the  German,  Dane  Rollo  ?  You're  not  pious.' 

Rollo  did  not  join  in  the  general  smile.  He  answered 
composedly — 

'  What  I  would  not  let  my  sister  do,  Miss  Josephine,  I 
am  bound  not  to  ask  of  another  lady. ' 

'  Why  wouldn't  you  let  your  sister  ?  You  haven't  got 
one,  and  don't  know.  •  But  that's  being  awfully  strict.  I 
had  no  idea  you  were  so  strict.  I  thought  you  were  jolly.' 

'  Could  you  hinder  your  sister  ? '  Stuart  asked  with  a 
slight  laugh.  The  answer  was,  however,  unhesitating. 

'Why  would  you  hinder  her? '  repeated  Josephine. 

'  Ask  Kitty  Fisher.' 

'  Kitty  ?  Does  she  know  ?  And  why  shouldn't  you 
tell  us  as  well  as  her  ? ' 

Rollo  took  Miss  Kennedy's  plate  at  the  instant  and 
went  off  with  it. 

'That's  all  bosh,'  said  Josephine.  '  I  like  people  that 
are  jolly.  The  German  is  real  jolly.  Last  week  we 
danced  it  with  candles — it  was  splendid  fun.' 

'  Not  here  ? '  said  one  of  the  gentlemen. 

'  Here  ?  No.  You  bet.  My  mother  is  my  mother,  and 
nobody  ever  charged  her  with  being  jolly,  I  suppose.' 

'  How  could  you  dance  with  candles  ? '  said  Primrose's 
astonished  voice. 

'  Yes.  Six  of  us  had  great  long  wax  candles,  lighted ; 
and  we  stood  up  on  a  chair.' 


KITTY    FISHER.  277 

'  Six  of  you  on  a  chair  ! ' 

'  The  old  question  of  the  schoolmen  !' — cried  Nightiiv 
gale,  bursting  into  a  laugh. 

'  Of  course  on  six  chairs,  I  mean.  Of  course.  Six 
of  us  on  a  chair ! ' — 

'  But  what  did  you  get  on  chairs  for  ? ' 

'  Why  ! — then  the  gentlemen  danced  round  us,  and  at 
the  signal — the  leader  gave  the  signal — the  gentlemen 
jumped  up  as  high  as  they  could  and  tried  to  blow 
out  our  lights ;  and  they  had  to  keep  step  and  jump  ; 
and  if  any  gentleman  could  blow  out  the  candle  nearest 
him  he  could  dance  with  that  lady.  Didn't  we  make 
them  jump,  though !  We  held  our  candles  up  so  high, 
you  know,  they  could  not  get  at  them.  Unless  we  liked 
somebody  and  wanted  him  for  a  partner.  O  we  had  a 
royal  time  ? ' 

'  Did  the  gentlemen  dance — and  blow — indiscriminate- 
ly ?  '  inquired  Miss  Kennedy  with  a  curl  of  her  lips. 

'  No,  no  ! — how  you  do  tell  things,  Josephine  ! '  said 
Miss  Burr.  '  Two  gentlemen  for  each  chair, — and 
whichever  of  the  two  put  the  candle  out,  he  danced  with 
the  lady.' 

'  Kitty  had  four  or  five  round  her  chair  ' — said  Jose- 
phine. 

'  And  couldn't  the  lady  help  herself  ?  '  inquired  Prim- 
rose, in  a  tone  of  voice  which  called  forth  a  universal 
burst  of  laughter. 

'Why  we  did,1  said  Josephine.  '  If  you  don't  like  a 
man,  you  hold  the  candle  up  out  of  his  reach.' 

'  You  couldn't  baffle  everybody  so,'  remarked  Mr. 
Kingsland.  Several  gentlemen  had  come  up  during  the 
talk,  closing  in  around  Miss  Kennedy. 

'  Mr.  Rollo  is  right  about  one  thing,'  said  Miss   Burr 


278  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  nobody  has  seen  the  German  who  has  not  seen  it  led  by 
Kitty  Fisher.  You  should  see  her  dance  it,  Miss  Kennedy. 

'  Yes,  you  should,'  echoed  Mr.  May,  '  I  had  rathei 
look  on  than  be  in  it,  for  my  part.' 

'What  do  you  think  she  did  at  Catskill  the  other  day  ? 
said  Miss  Burr.  '  She  took  a  piece  of  ice  between  her 
teeth,  and  went  round  the  piazza  asking  all  the  gentle- 
men to  take  a  bite.' 

'  Clever  Kitty  !  She'll  work  that  up  into  a  new  figure 
— see  if  she  dont,'  — said  Mr.  Kingsland. 

'  To  be  called  the  noli  me  tangere ! '  said  Mr.  May. 
'  Partners  secured  at  the  melting  point.'  The  other 
gentlemen  laughed. 

'  I  see  you  and  Kitty  are  at  swords'  points  yet,'  said 
Miss  Burr. 

'  No,'  put  in  Rollo  —  'she  likes  a  foil  better  than  a  ra- 
pier.' 

'  Certainly  it  does  not  sound  as  if  she  was  like  you, 
Primrose,'  observed  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Like  Miss  Maryland  ! — Hardly,'  said  Mr.  May. 
'  Nor  like  any  one  your  thoughts  could  even  imagine,'  he 
added  softly. 

It  was  growing  late  now,  and  the  moon  gradually  pass- 
ing along  behind  the  trees,  found  a  clear  space  at  this 
point,  and  looked  down  full  at  the  little  party  to  see  what 
they  were  about.  Just  then,  from  the  distance,  came 
a  stir  and  a  murmur  and  sound  of  laughing  voices. 

'  She's  coming  this  minute ! '  said  Mr.  Kingsland. 
"  Talk  about  angels  "  ! — Your  curiosity  will  soon  be  fed, 
Miss  Kennedy, — and  may,  perchance,  like  other  things, 
grow  by  what  it  feeds  on.  Here  comes  the  redoubtable 
Kitty  herself  ! — Miss  Fisher  ! — my  poor  eyes  have  seen 
nothing  since  they  last  beheld  you  ? ' 


KITTY    FISHER.  279 

'  Don't  see  much  in  ordinary,'  said  a  gay  voice  ;  and  a 
young  lady, — too  young,  alas,  for  the  part  she  was  play- 
ing ! — swept  into  the  circle.  A  very  handsome  girl, 
with  a  coronet  of  fair  hair,  from  which  strayed  braids  and 
curls  and  crinkles  and  puffs  and  bands  and  flowers  and 
ribbands;  her  dress  in  the  extremest  extremity  of  the 
fashion,  very  long,  very  low ;  with  puffs  and  poufs  in- 
numerable ;  the  whole  borne  up  by  the  highest  and  min- 
utest pair  of  heels  that  ever  a  beguiling  shoemaker  sent 
forth.  She  nodded,  laughing,  and  held  out  her  hands 
right  and  left. 

*  How  d'ye  do,  Stephen  ?  —  Mr.  Richard  May  !'  — 
with  a  profound  reverence.  '  And  if  there  isn't  our 
Norwegian  back  again  !  Glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Rollo. 
Have  you  learned  how  to  spell  your  name  yet  ? ' 

But  to  this  lady  Rollo  gave  one  of  his  Spanish  saluta- 
tions ;  while  Phinny  Powder  jumped  up  and  exclaimed 
with  pleasure,  and  Primrose  uttered  from  behind  them 
her  quiet  'how  d'ye  do,  Kitty?'  Wych  Hazel  on  her 
part  had  risen  too — drawing  a  little  back  from  the  front, 
in  the  sudden  desire  for  a  distant  view  first. 

'  I  see, '  Miss  Fisher  went  on,  speaking  to  Rollo. — • 
'The  e  in  the  middle  as  usual,  and  the  i  and  the  g  to 
keep  it  there.  Why,  Prim,  my  dear  child  ! — you  here  ? 
Among  all  these  black  coats  of  unclerical  order  ? — How 
do  you  do  ? ' — with  an  embrace.  '  And  how  is  my  uncle  ? 
— But  where  is  Miss  Kennedy  ?  I  am  dying  to  see  Miss 
Kennedy  ! — and  they  told  me  she  was  here. ' 

'The  time  to  die  is — after  you.  have  seen  Miss  Ken- 
nedy,' said  Mr.  Kingsland. 

'To  my  face! 'said  Kitty.  'Well! — That  is  she,  I 
know,  behind  Mr.  May.  Introduce  us  Richard,  'please.' 

Mr.    May   stepped  aside,  and  with  extreme  formality 


280  VVYCH    HAZEL. 

presented  Miss  Fisher  to  the  lady  of  Chickaree.  Kitty 
touched  hands, — and  paused,  forgetting  to  take  her  own 
away.  The  young  '  unwonted '  face  was  certainly  a  nov- 
elty to  her.  And  a  surprise. 

'We  shall  all  be  jealous  of  her  for  her  little  mouth,' 
was  her  first  remark.  '  Don't  everybody  generally  kiss 
you,  child,  that  comes  near  enough  ? ' 

Wych  Hazel  withdrew  her  hand,  stepping  back  again 
in  her  astonishment,  and  surveying  Miss  Fisher. 

'  People  do  not — generally — come  near  enough,'  she 
said,  as  well  as  it  could  be  said. 

There  was  a  little  round  of  applause  from  the  gentle- 
men at  that.  Kitty  Fisher  nodded,  not  at  all  displeased. 

'  She'll  do, '  she  said.  '  I  was  afraid  she  was  nothing 
but  a  milksop, — all  strawberries  and  cream.  I  vow  she's 
handsome ! ' 

'  Handsome  is  that  handsome  does, '  said  Rollo.  '  Miss 
Kitty,  will  you  sit  down  and  take  things  calmly  ? ' — offer- 
ing a  chair. 

'  Yes,  I'll  take  the  chair ;  and  Miss  Kennedy  and  I'll 
divide  the  civil  speech  between  us, '  said  Kitty  Fisher, 
placing  herself  close  by  Hazel.  '  It's  awfully  nice  here. 
What  are  you  all  about  ? ' 

'  Just  unable  to  get  on  for  want  of  Miss  Fisher,'  said 
Stuart.  '  Calling  for  you,  in  fact.' 

'Echo  answering  "Where?"  and  all  that,'  said  Kitty. 

'  Not  at  all.     Echo  said  you  were  coming.' 

'  No  dancing  to-night  ? — awfully  slow,  isn't  it  ?  Beg 
pardon,  Phinny ;  but  you  think  just  so  yourself.  Go  off 
and  start  up  the  band  into  a  waltz,  and  we'll  have  it  out 
before  the  old  lady  gets  the  idea  into  her  head.  Come  ?' 

Phinny  started  off  on  the  instant  with  such  energy  and 
goodwill  to  her  errand,  that  in  a  few  minutes  the  burst 


KITTY   FISHER.  ^281 

of  a  waltz  air  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the 
parties  requiring  it,  said  that  Miss  Josephine  had  been 
successful.  And  she  said  it  herself. 

'  There  ! '  she  exclaimed  ;  'we've  got  it.  Mamma'll 
never  care,  if  she  hears,  nor  know,  if  she  sees.  Come  ! 
Here  are  enough  of  us. ' 

One  and  another  couple  sailed  off  from  the  group. 
Stuart  offered  his  hand  to  Wych  Hazel.  'You  waltz?' 
he  said. 

She  gave  hers  readily.  The  music  had  put  heron  tiptoe. 
And  presently  the  little  green  was  full  of  flying  footsteps 
and  fluttering  draperies.  As  many  as  there  was  room 
for  took  the  ground  ;  but  there  was  good  room,  and  the 
waltz  was  spirited.  Some  stood  and  looked  on  ;  some 
beat  time  with  their  feet.  In  a  shadow  of  the  corner 
where  they  had  been  talking,  stood  Prim  and  Rollo  ;not 
beating  time.  Prim  put  her  hand  on  his  arm,  but  nei- 
ther spoke  a  word. 

'  Shall  we  take  a  tangent, — and  finish  our  stroll  ? '  whis 
pered  Stuart,  when  they  had  whirled  round  the  circle 
several  times. 

'  If  you  like, — one  is  ready  for  anything  in  such  a  night, ' 
said  Hazel  gleefully.  She  had  gone  round  much  like  a 
thistledown,  with  a  child's  face  and  movement  of  pleas- 
ure So,  suddenly  and  silently,  as  they  were  passing 
one  of  the  alleys  that  led  out  from  the  little  green,  Stuart 
and  his  partner  disappeared  from  the  eves  of  the  specta- 
tors. It  was  certainly  a  pleasant  night  for  a  stroll.  The 
light  made  such  new  combinations  of  old  things,  took 
and  gave  such  new  views  ;  the  pleasure  of  looking  for 
them  and  finding  them  was  ensnaring.  Then  the  air  was 
very  sweet  and  soft,  and — so  was  Stuart's  conver- 
sation. 


2&2  WYCH   HAZEL. 

Gliding  on  from  one  thing  to  another,  even  as  their 
footsteps  went, — mingling  fun  and  fancy  and  common- 
place and  flattery  in  a  very  agreeable  sort  of  pot-pourri, 
— so  they  followed  down  one  alley  of  the  shrubbery  and 
up  another  ;  winding  about  and  about,  but  keeping  at  a 
distance  from  other  people.  Until,  much  too  soon  for 
Stuart's  intent,  they  were  suddenly  and  quietly  joined  at 
a  fork  of  the  paths  by  Rollo,  with  Miss  Fisher  on  his 
arm. 

As  the  waltz  ceased,  Rollo  had  secured  without  diffi- 
culty the  companionship  of  Miss  Fisher  for  a  walk  ;  and 
Miss  Fisher  never  knew  how  peculiar  a  walk  it  was,  nor 
imagined  that  her  cavalier  was  following  a  very  fixed 
and  definite  purpose  of  his  own.  Nothing  seemed  less 
purposeful  than  the  course  they  took  ;  it  was  no  course  ; 
from  one  path  diverging  into  another,  changing  from  one 
direction  to  another ;  a  hunted  hare  would  scarce  make 
more  doublings,  or  anything  else,  except  the  dog  in  chase 
of  the  hare.  Kitty  only  knew  that  she  was  very  well 
amused  ;  her  companion  never  left  that  doubtful,  nor 
allowed  her  much  leisure  to  make  inconvenient  observa- 
tions ;  and,  in  short,  Kitty  did  not  care  where  they  went ! 
— and  Rollo  did  care.  So  it  fell  out,  that  quite  sud- 
denly, and  as  much  to  his  companion's  surprise  as  any- 
body's, quite  easily  and  naturally  they  stepped  out  of 
one  walk  into  another  just  as  Wych  Hazel  and  her  at- 
tendant came  to  the  same  spot. 

'Your  old  proverbs  are  all  stuff,'  Kitty  was  saying' to 
her  companion.  '  I  do  think  she's  the  prettiest  thing  I 
ever  saw.  Only  she  don't  know  her  tools.  Just  wait 
till  I've  had  her  in  training  a  while  ! ' 

'  Miss  Kennedy,'  said  Rollo,  '  how  would  you  like  to 
be  in  training  ? '  They  had  somehow  joined  company 


KITTY    FISHER.  283 

with  Stuart  and  Wych  Hazel,  not  by  the  former's  good 
will,  but  he  could  not  manage  to  help  it. 

I  may  as  well  reserve  my  views  on  that  subject  for 
somebody  who  wants  to  try/  said  the  girl,  with  a  laugh. 
She  had  not  heard  Kitty  Fisher. 

'  On  what  point  just  now  do  you  think  you  need  it  ? ' 

'  I  am  in  an  extremely  contented  state  of  mind  "  just 
now,"  thank  you,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  Miss  Fisher  would  not  think  that  proves  anything.' 

'  Does  Miss  Kitty  offer  her  services  as  trainer  ? '  asked 
Stuart. 

'  Now  just  wait,  both  of  you,'  said  Kitty  Fisher,  '  and 
let  Miss  Kennedy  get  used  to  me  a  little.  She's  awfully 
shocked,  to  begin  with  ;  and  you're  trying  to  make  be- 
lieve she'll  never  get  over  it.' 

A  slight  gesture  of  Miss  Kennedy's  head,  unseen  by 
Miss  Kitty,  seemed  to  say  that  was  extremely  probable. 

'  You  should  let  her  get  accustomed  to  you  by  degrees' 
said  Stuart.  '  Hover  about  in  the  middle  distance,  sup- 
pose, without  getting  out  of  the  range  of  vision — so  that 
you  may  make  your  approaches  to  her  heart  through  her 
eyes.  That  is  an  excellent  way.' 

'  Is  it  ? '  said  Kitty.  '  You've  tried  all  ways,  I  presume. 
But  I  notice  that  just  now  you  seem  to  prefer  the  ear  as 
a  medium.  Wouldn't  she  be  splendid  in  the  "  Thread 
of  Destiny,"  Stuart?' 

'  I  should  think  so,  if  I  were  at  the  end  of  the  thread!' 

'  You  would  not  suppose  it,  Miss  Kennedy,'  said 
Rollo  ;  '  but  the  "  Thread  of  Destiny  "  is  a  silk  riband. 
The  destiny  is  not  therefore  always  silken.' 

'  Much  you  know  about  it !  '  said  Kitty.  '  I  just  wish 
I  could  see  you  thoroughly  wound  up  for  once,  with  Bell 
Powder  and  two  or  three  other  people.' 


284  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Wych  Hazel  was  growing  rather  weary  of  the  talk. 
'  Who  were  the  singers  to-night,  Mr.  Nightingale  ? '  she 
said,  pitching  her  voice  for  his  benefit  alone. 

'  Really,'  said  he,  in  an  answering  tone,  '  I  am  not  mu- 
sical enough  to  be  certain  about  it.  Voices  in  common 
speech  I  can  understand  and  appreciate ;  but  in  this 
kind  of  manifestation — Mrs.  Powder  knows  her  business. 
She  had  secured  the  right  sort  of  thing.  The  principal 
singer  is  a  lady  who  has  studied  abroad  ;  they  are  all 
visitors  or  dwellers  in  the  neighbourhood.  Did  you  like 
the  performance  ? ' 

'  Some  of  it ;  but  the  singing  above  all.  You  cannot 
understand  that  ? ' 

'  If  you  and  Miss  Kennedy  want  to  whisper,'  said 
Kitty  Fisher,  '  fall  back  a  little,  can't  you,  Mr.  Nightin- 
gale ?  or  turn  down  another  path.  It  disturbs  my  own 
train  of  thought,  this  trying  to  hear  what  other  people  say.' 

'  Nobody  would  suspect  Miss  Fisher,'  said  Rollo,  dryly, 
'  of  being  unwilling  that  anybody  should  hear  what  she 
has  to  say.' 

'  Do  you  know,'  said  Kitty,  turning  upon  him  with  an 
emphasizing  pressure  of  the  arm  she  held,  '  what  my 
thoughts  really  are  at  work  upon  ? ' 

'  Yes.' 

'  Let's  hear.     Tell  me,  and  I'll  tell  you.' 

'  I  do  not  think,'  said  Rollo,  slowly, — '  it  would  be  ex- 
pedient.' 

'  Fudge  !  You  know  you  couldn't.  I  have  been  trying 
to  find  out  what  so  extremely  sedate  a  person  was  after 
when  he  undertook  to  walk  me  round  in  the  moonlight ! ' 

And  in  defiance  of  everything,  Wych  Hazel's  soft 
'  Ha !  ha ! '  responded, — a  little  as  if  the  question  had  per- 
plexed her  too. 


KITTY   FISHER.  285 

'  Have  you  had  a  good  time  ? '  said  Rollo  coolly. 

'  Very  ! — which  makes  it  the  more  puzzling.  Did  Mr. 
Rollo  ever  walk  withjw*  in  the  moonlight,  Miss  Ken- 
nedy ? ' 

'  Yes.' 

'  Have  a  good  time  ? '  said  Kitty. 

The  girl  hesitated ;  but  among  her  accomplishments 
the  art  of  pretty  fibs  had  not  been  included.  The  truth 
had  to  come  out  in  some  shape. 

'  So  far  as  Mr.  Rollo  could  make  it,' — she  said  at  last. 

O  how  Kitty  Fisher  laughed !  and  the  gentlemen 
both  smiled. 

'  Why,  that  is  capital ! '  she  cried.  '  I  couldn't  have 
done  better  myself ! '  Wych  Hazel  blushed  painfully  ; 
but  Rollo's  answer  was  extremely  unconcerned. 

'I  don't  always  give  people  a  good  time,'  he  said. 
'  You  are  fortunate,  Miss  Kitty.  I  am  impelled  to  ask, 
in  this  connection,  how  long  Mrs.  Powder  expects  us  to 
make  our  good  times  this  evening? ' 

Upon  comparing  watches  in  the  moonlight,  it  was 
found  that  the  night  was  well  on  its  way.  There  was 
nothing  more  to  do  but  to  go  home. 

On  the  way  home,  a  little  bit  of  talk  occurred  in  the 
rockaway,  which  may  be  reported.  Going  along  quietly 
in  the  bright  moonlit  road,  Rollo  driving,  Primrose  sud- 
denly asked  a  question — 

'  Didn't  you  use  to  be  a  great  waltzer,  Duke  ? ' 

'A  waltzer  ? — yes.' 

'  Then  what  made  you  not  waltz  to-night  ? ' 

Rollo  leaned  back  against  one  side  of  the  rockaway, 
and  answered,  while  the  old  horse  walked  leisurely  on — , 

'  I  have  looked  at  the  subject  from  a  new  point  of 
view,  Prim.' 


286  WYCH  HAZEL. 

'  Have  you  ? — From  what  point  of  view,  Duke  ? '  said 
Primrose,  much  interested. 

'  I  have  made  up  my  mind,'  said  Rollo  slowly,  'I 
shall  waltz  no  more, — except  with  the  lady  who  will  be 
my  wife.  And  when  I  waltz  with  her, — she  will  waltz 
with  nobody  else  ! ' 

Prim  sat  back  in  her  corner,  and  spoke  not  a  word 
more. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE   LOSS   OF  ALL   THINGS. 

AND  how  do  you  like  your  new  neighbour,  Prim  ? ' 
-/~\  said  the  young  Dr.  Maryland  the  first  night  of 
his  return  home.  He  had  talked  all  tea-time  to  the  col- 
lective family  without  once  mentioning  Miss  Kennedy's 
name,  and  now  put  the  question  to  his  sister  as  they  sat 
alone  together  in  the  twilight. 

'  O  Arthur,  very  much.' 

'  You  see  a  good  deal  of  her  ? '  was  the  next  question, 
asked  after  a  pause. 

'  Y — es,'  said  Primrose,  doubtfully,  '  At  least,  when  I 
am  with  her  I  think  I  do  ;  when  I  am  away  from  her  it 
seems  little.' 

'  I  must  ride  over  there  and  call,  to-morrow,'  said  Dr. 
Arthur.  '  Will  you  go  too  ? ' 

And  so  it  fell  out  that  Dingee  was  summoned  to  the 
door  next  day  to  usher  in  the  party. 

'  Yes'm,  Miss  Ma'land — Miss  Hazel,  she  in,  sure  ! — 
singin'  to  herself  in  de  red  room,' — and  Dingee  led  the 
way. 

It  was  a  new  room  to  most  of  the  guests.  A  room 
that  seemed  two  sides  woodland  and  one  side  sunshine. 
Walls  with  deep  crimson  hangings,  and  carpets  of  the 
same  hue ;  and  quaint  old  carved  oak  chairs  and  tables, 
and  a  bookcase  or  two,  and  oaken  shelves  and  brackets 
against  the  crimson  of  the  walls.  The  morning  had  been 


288  WYCH    HAZEL. 

cool  enough,  there  at  Chickaree,  for  a  wood  fire,  though 
only  the  embers  remained  now  ;  and  in  front  of  where 
the  fire  had  been,  sat  the  young  mistress  of  the  house 
half  hid  in  a  great  arm-chair.  Soft  white  folds  fell  all 
around  her,  and  two  small  blue  velvet  slippers  took  their 
ease  upon  a  footstool;  with  white  laces  giving  their  cob- 
web finish  here,  there  and  everywhere.  A  book  was  in 
her  hand,  and  on  her  shoulder  the  grey  kitten  purred 
secure,  in  spite  of  the  silky  curls  which  now  and  then 
made  puss  into  a  pillow.  Now  and  then.  For  while 
Miss  Kennedy  sometimes  made  believe  to  read,  ana 
sometimes  really  sang — pouring  out  scraps  of  song  like  a 
wild  bird — yet  in  truth  her  attention  was  oftenest  given 
to  the  great  picture  which  hung  in  one  recess.  And 
then  her  head  went  down  upon  the  grey  kitten.  Just 
now,  when  the  visitors  came  in,  she  was  searching  for 
the  notes  of  that  last  song  at  Mrs.  Powder's  ;  trying  ap- 
parently, to  catch  it  and  bring  it  back  ;  her  girl's  voice 
endeavouring  to  represent  that  which  her  girl's  heart 
had  never  known. 

The  picture — I  may  describe  it  here — was  that  of  a 
young  man  bound  to  a  tree  and  pierced  with  arrows.  No 
human  witnesses  in  sight,  except  in  the  extreme  distance  ; 
and  over  sky  and  earth  no  sunlight,  but  instead  the 
deepening  shadows  of  night.  But  the  presence  of  the 
one  was  not  noticed,  nor  the  presence  of  the  other  missed. 
Away  from  earth,  and  lifted  above  suffering,  the  martyr's 
eyes  looked  to  the  opening  clouds  above  his  head,  where 
were  light,and  heavenly  messengers,  and  the  palm-branch, 
and  the  crown.  Something  in  the  calm  clear  face  check- 
ed Miss  Kennedy's  bursts  of  song  as  often  as  she  turned 
that  way — the  high  look  so  beyond  her  reach. 

'  What  are  you  doing,  Hazel  ? '  said  Prim's  sweet  voice. 


THE    LOSS    OF    ALL   THINGS.  289 

'  Puzzling/ — said  Hazel,  jumping  up,  and  lifting  one 
hand  to  support  the  kitten.  '  Dr.  Maryland,  I  am  very 
glad  to  see  you  !  O  Prim,  how  happy  you  must  be  !' 

'  You  didn't  look  in  the  least  like  a  person  in  a  puzzle, 
said  Primrose,  after  the  first  compliments  were  passed. 
'  What  could  you  be  puzzling  about,  dear  ? ' 

'  That  picture.  It  always  puzzles  me.  And  so  when 
I  get  befogged  over  other  things,  I  often  come  here  and 
add  this  to  the  number.' 

'  You  are  hardly  far  enough  on  in  your  studies  yet, 
Miss  Kennedy,  to  understand  that  picture,'  said  Dr. 
Arthur,  who  was  considering  it  very  intently  himself. 

'  My  studies  !  Painting,  do  you  mean  ?  Or  what  do 
you  mean  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  What  does  the  picture  say  to  you,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'  That  is  just  what  I  cannot  find  out,'  said  Hazel,  jump- 
ing up  again  and  coming  to  stand  at  his  side.  I  cannot 
read  it  a  bit.' 

'  You  have  not  learned  the  characters  in  which  it  is 
written,  yet,'  said  Dr.  Arthur,  with  a  glance  at  her. 

'  She  has  not  learned  much,'  said  Primrose,  smiling. 

'  Can  you  read  it  ?'  said  Hazel,   facing  round. 

'Why  yes,  Hazel.' 

'  Well,'  said  the  girl,  half  impatiently, '  then  how  come 
I  to  be  such  an  ignoramus  ? ' 

'  There  are  some  things,'  said  Dr.  Arthur,  with  another 
swift  look  at  his  companion,  'which- everybody  can  learn 
at  once.  But  there  are  others,  Miss  Kennedy,  which 
sometimes  must  wait  until  the  Lord  himself  sets  the  les- 
son. I  think  this  is  one  of  those.' 

'  I  shall  ask  your  father,'  said  Hazel,  decidedly.  '  He 
always  thinks  I  ought  to  know  everything  at  once.' 

'  Oh  Hazel,  my  dear,  how  can  you  say  so  ? '  cried  Prim. 


290  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Indeed,  papa  is  never  so  unreasonable.  And  there  he 
is  this  minute,  and  you  can  ask  him.' 

The  long  windows  of  the  room  looked  upon  a  stretch 
of  greensward  spotted  with  trees.  Coming  across  this 
bit  of  the  grounds,  Dr.  Maryland  and  Rollo  saw  one  of 
the  windows  open,  and  caught  sight  also  of  the  party 
within.  Even  as  Dr.  Maryland's  daughter  spoke,  they 
stepped  upon  the  piazza  and  came  into  the  room. 

'  That  is  a  picture  of  the  loss  of  all  things,'  Dr.  Arthur 
was  saying.  '  How  should  you  be  able  to  understand  ? ' 
But  then  he  stepped  back,  and  left  the  explanation  in 
other  hands. 

'  "  The  loss  of  all  things  !  "  '  Hazel  repeated,  bewil- 
dered. '  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Rollo  ? — Dr.  Maryland, 
there  is  always  some  special  reason  why  I  am  especially 
glad  to  see  you ! ' 

'  What  is  the  reason  now,  my  dear  ? '  said  the  doctor, 
with  a  very  benign  look  on  his  face. 

'  These  two  people,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  with  an  airy 
gesture  of  her  head  towards  her  other  guests,  '  find  me  in 
a  puzzle  and  push  me  further  in.  And  I  want  to  be 
pulled  out.' 

'  In  what  direction  shall  I  pull  ? '  asked  the  doctor. 

'  Well,  sir, — O  Mr.  Rollo,  don't  you  want  the  cat  ? — I 
know  you  like  cats,'  said  Hazel,  '  and  she  is  in  my  way 
— It  is  only  about  my  old  picture  here,  Dr.  Maryland, 
which  they  pretend  to  understand.  Dr.  Arthur  says  it 
means  "  the  loss  of  all  things," — and  that  does  not  clear 
up  my  ideas  in  the  least.  Why  must  I  "  wait "  to  know 
what  it  means  ? '  she  added,  linking  her  hands  on  the 
Doctor's  arm,  and  raising  her  eager,  vivid  face  to  his. 
'  Prim  says  I  "  don't  know  much" — but  I  do  not  see  why 
that  should  hinder  my  learning  more.' 


THE    LOSS   OF   ALL   THINGS.  291 

How  strong  the  contrast  with  the  martyr's  face  !  how 
high  and  still  and  calm  the  look  of  him  who  had  over- 
come !  How  tender,  how  open  to  sorrow,  how  suscep- 
tible of  loss,  that  of  the  girl  on  whom  as  yet  the  rough 
winds  had  not  blown  !  Dr.  Arthur's  eyes  went  soberly 
from  one  to  the  other.  Rollo  had  taken  the  little  cat  from 
its  position  on  its  mistress's  shoulder,  and  now  stood 
with  it  established  on  his  own,  quietly  and  somewhat 
gravely  attending  to  what  was  going  on. 

'  What  do  you  want  to  learn,  my  dear  ? '  said  Dr.  Mary- 
land, on  his  part  gazing  at  the  picture  now. 

'  That  picture  always  perplexes  me,'  said  Hazel.  '  What 
does  it  mean?  And  why  do  I  love  it  so  much,  not 
knowing  what  it  means  ? ' 

Standing  and  looking  at  the  picture,  Dr.  Maryland 
answered  in  the  words  of  Paul  :  '  "  What  mean  ye  to 
weep  and  to  break  mine  heart  ?  for  I  am  ready  not  to  be 
bound  only,  but  also  to  die  at  Jerusalem  for  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.'  " 

'  But  papa,'  said  Primrose,  '  that  doesn't  tell  her  what 
it  means.  Didn't  Arthur  say  right — "  The  loss  of  all 
things  ? ' 

'  It  means,'  said  Dr.  Maryland, — '  Human  weakness 
and  God's  strength.  Human  emptiness  and  God's  ful- 
ness. Earthly  defeat  and  heavenly  victory.  How  should 
you  understand  it,  my  dear,  who  have  not  begun  the 
fight  yet  ? ' 

'  But  then,  papa,  why  does  she  love  it  so  much  ? ' 

Dr.  Maryland  hesitated,  and  it  was  Rollo  who  an- 
swered : 

'  Because  the  fight  is  in  her.' 

'  That's  a  queer  way  of  putting  it,'  said  Dr.  Maryland; 
'  but  perhaps  it's  true.  I  hope  it  is.' 


2Q2  WYCH   HAZEL. 

The  girl  gave  a  swift  look  over  her  shoulder  which  it 
is  to  be  hoped  Mr.  Rollo  liked,  as  it  was  meant  for  him. 
So  sparkling  with  the  joy  of  being  understood,  so  stirred 
with  that  sudden  new  life  and  purpose  which  apprecia- 
tion wakes  up  in  some  natures.  It  was  but  an  instant — 
then  her  eyes  came  back  to  Dr.  Maryland,  and  were  all 
quiet  again.  He  did  not  think  so,  evidently.  Which 
was  right  ?  Of  what  did  he  doubt  her  capable  ? 

'  Weakness,'  '  emptiness,'  '  defeat,'  she  said,  recalling 
his  words.  '  Is  that  what  I  am  to  find  ? ' 

'  You  do  not  think  it  possible,'  said  Dr.  Maryland. 

'  How  should  she,  papa  ? '  said  Primrose. 

'Well,  my  dear,  it  is  not  possible  she  should.  And 
yet,  Hazel,  these  are  the  only  one  way  to  find  strength, 
fulness,  and  victory.  It  is  a  problem  to  you,  my  dear ; 
only  to  be  worked  out.' 

'  Does  every  one  work  it  out,  papa  ? ' 

'  No,  my  dear ;  two  thirds  of  men  never  do.  And  so 
they  go  on  forever  saying,  ''Who  will  shew  us  any 
good  ?  " ' 

'  He  did  not  find  defeat,'  said  Hazel,  looking  at  the 
martyr's  face,  and  somehow  forgetting  the  arrows  and 
the  cords. 

'  The  story  is,'  said  Dr.  Maryland,  '  that  he  was  an 
officer,  high  in  trust  and  command,  in  the  service  of  the 
Emperor  (Diocletian.)  For  owning  himself  a  Christian, 
he  was  stripped  of  power  and  place,  delivered  into  the 
will  of  his  enemies,  to  be  bound  to  a  tree  and  shot  to  death 
with  arrows.  There  is  the  human  defeat,  my  dear 
Hazel.  What  you  see  in  the  face  there,  is  the  mental 
victory  ; — some  of  the  struggle,  too.' 

"  Mental  victory" — she  said  half  to  herself,  consider- 
ing the  words.  '  I  ought  to  be  equal  to  that.  Did  you 


THE  LOSS  OF  ALL  THINGS.  293 

mean  "defeat,"  Dr.  Arthur,  by  "the  loss  of  all 
things  ? "  ' 

'  No,'  said  Dr.  Arthur,  '  I  meant  anything  but  that. 
I  meant  nothing  worse  than  the  exchange  of  a  handful 
of  soiled  paper  for  both  the  hands  full  of  solid  gold.' 

'  Ah  you  all  talk  such  riddles  ! '  said  the  girl,  knitting 
her  brows.  '  What  would  it  be  to  me,  I  mean  ?  That 
I  should  lose  Chickaree  ? — but  that  is  impossible.' 

'  It  was  said,'  Dr.  Maryland  answered, — '  and  the 
Lord  said  it — "  Whosoever  he  be  of  you  that  forsaketh 
not  all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple."  ' 

'  Yes,  sir,  but — '  she  said  quickly, — then  checked  her- 
self. 

'  Well,  my  dear  ?  My  words  will  come  best  in  answer 
to  your  questions,  for  then  they  can  meet  the  very  point 
of  your  difficulty.' 

'You  will  not  think  me  disrespectful,  sir? — I  was  go- 
ing to  say,  you  do  not  do  that ' — said  Hazel,  hesitating 
over  her  words.  '  None  of  you.  You  have  Prim  and 
Dr.  Arthur, — and  Dr.  Arthur  comes  home,  and  then  Prim 
has  her  brother.  And  there  is  the  pretty  house,  and 
books,  and  engravings.  I  don't  know  anything  about 
•  Mr.  Ro'llo,  of  course,'  she  said,  correcting  herself,  '  but 
I  mean  the  rest  of  you.' 

'  May  we  sit  down  ? '  said  Dr.  Maryland,  '  Dane  and  I 
have  walked  up  from  Mr.  Falkirk's.  Unless  Dane  likes 
to  stand  to  accommodate  the  cat ! '  said  the  doctor  with 
a  humourous  glance  at  the  shoulder  where  pussy  sat  with 
shut  eyes,  purring  contentedly.  '  It's  a  fair  question, 
Hazel ;  and  an  easy  mistake.  But  my  dear,  so  far  as  I 
know,  Prim  and  Arthur  and  I  have  not  kept  anything. 
For  myself,'  said  Dr.  Man-land,  lifting  up  a  bright  face, 
'  all  that  I  have  is  my  Master's.  I  am  not  the  owner 


294  WYCH   HAZEL. 

even  of  myself.  So  long  as  his  service  bids  me  use 
the  things  entrusted  to  me  in  the  way  I  am  doing,  I  will 
use  them  so.  And  whenever  his  honour,  or  his  work, 
calls  me  to  give  up  anything  or  everything  of  all  these 
— my  home,  my  children,  or  my  own  life — I  am  ready ; 
it  is  the  Lord's  now ;  he  shall  do  with  them  all  what  he 
will.  Do  you  understand  ? ' 

'  And  Arthur  and  I  would  say  the  same,'  added  Prim  • 
rose. 

Her  brother  answered  in  the  words  so  long  ago  writ- 
ten, so  many  times  lived  out.  ' "  Not  a  myself — but 
Christ ;  not  a  my  will — but  Christ.  Not  a  mine  ease,  or 
my  profit,  or  my  pleasure,  but  Christ.' " 

The  girl  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  as  each  spoke, 
with  a  flash  of  sympathy  ;  even  as  thoughts  stir  and 
kindle  at  the  sound  of  a  bugle  call,  while  yet  they  know 
not  what  it  says.  But  then  she  turned  suddenly  round 
and  looked  at  Rollo.  An  expectant  look,  that  waited 
for  him  to  speak, — that  gathered — or  he  fancied  so — a 
shade  of  disappointment  as  it  turned  away  again  to  the 
face  on  the  wall.  She  sat  silent,  leaning  her  chin  upon 
her  hands.  His  look  had  been  perfectly  grave,  thought- 
ful and  quiet ;  but  otherwise  did  not  reveal  itself.  There 
was  a  general  silence.  Then  Dr.  Maryland  said, 

1  Do  you  understand  the  paradox,  my  dear  ? ' 

'  I  think  I  must  be  the  paradox  myself,'  Hazel  answer- 
ed with  a  half  laugh.  '  I  could  do  that — I  could  bear 
the  arrows :  I  think  I  could.  But  you  never  saw  any- 
body, sir,  that  liked  giving  up — anything — less  than  I 
do.' 

'You  would  rather  bear  the  arrows  than  the  cords, 
said  Dr.  Arthur  Maryland.  '  It  is  easier.' 

'  Depends  on  the  people,'  said  Primrose. 


THE   LOSS    OF   ALL   THINGS.  295 

'  "  As  having  nothing,  and  yet  possessing  all  things," ' 
Dr.  Maryland  added  rather  dreamily. 

'  I  suppose,'  said  Rollo,  with  a  moment's  deep  look  into 
Wych  Hazel's  eyes,  '  the  free  spirit  is  beyond  bonds.' 

'  That  is  it,  my  boy  ! '  exclaimed  Dr.  Maryland.  '  Think 
• — when  Paul  and  Silas  were  in  the  dungeon  at  Philippi, 
— a  dreary  place,  most  likely;  and  they,  beaten  and 
bleeding  and  sore,  stretched  and  confined  in  the  wooden 
frame  which  I  suppose  left  them  not  one  moment's  ease, 
— at  midnight  it  was,  they  fell  to  such  singing  and  prais- 
ing that  the  other  prisoners  waked  up  and  listened  to 
hear  the  song.' 

Hazel  crossed  her  slender  wrists  and  sat  looking  at 
them,  imagining  the  bonds. 

'Do  you  think  it  is  all  in  meV  she  said,  with  another 
sudden  appeal  to  Rollo. 

Rollo  was  not  a  man  fond  of  wearing  his  heart  upon 
his  sleeve.  Another  momentary  glance  went  through 
her  eyes,  as  it  were,  and  was  withdrawn,  before  he  gave 
a  short,  grave  'yes.'  Haze^  went  back  to  her  musings 
without  another  word,  and  only  the  least  bit  of  a  tri- 
umphant curl  about  the  corners  of  her  mouth. 

'  1  wonder  how  it  would  feel  ? '  she  said,  crossing  and 
uncrossing  her  hands. 

'  What  ? '  said  Primrose. 

'  Bonds — and  chains,'  said  the  girl,  clasping  her  wrist 
tight.  '  To  have  my  hands  tied  ! ' 

'  You  are  not  called  upon  to  find  out,  my  dear,'  said 
Dr.  Maryland;  'that  is  not  required  of  you.  But  re- 
member, Hazel,  no  bonds  are  heavy  that  love  wears.' 

'  Depends  upon  how  they  get  on,  sir,'  she  said,  quickly. 

'What  ?'  said  the  doctor,  with  a  somewhat  comic  twin- 
kle coming  into  his  eye.  '  How  is  that  ?  * 


296  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  hate  bonds,  Dr.  Maryland ! — from  the  very  bottom  of 
my  heart.' 

'  You  have  never  worn  the  sort  I  spoke  of,  my  dear ' 
he  said,  smiling.  '  I  never  heard  anybody  complain  of 
them.' 

'  What  sort  ? '  said  Hazel.     '  Bonds  are  bonds.' 

'  But  love  likes  her  bonds,'  said  the  doctor. 

The  girl  shook  her  head.  '  She  likes  her  way,  sir !  in 
my  case.  When  Mr.  Falkirk  forbids  me  to — well,  no 
matter  what, — to  do  something,'  she  said,  dropping  her 
eyes,  '  I  do  suppose  I  obey  better  than  if  I  didn't  love 
him.  But  I  hate  it  all  the  same.  It  makes  me  feel — 
like  my  name,'  she  added  with  a  laugh. 

'  Love  likes  her  bonds,'  the  doctor  repeated,  shaking 
his  head. 

'  And  the  arrow  that  is  weighted  flies  freest  against 
the  wind,'  Rollo  remarked. 

'  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ? '  said  Primrose.  '  Duke, 
you  look  very  funny  with  that  cat  upon  your  shoulder.' 

'Pussy  likes  it,'  said  Rollo. 

'  Dane,  have  you  finished  your  business  with  Hazel  ? ' 
said  Dr.  Maryland.  '  I  must  be  going  presently.' 

'  Well,  sir — if  Prim  and  Arthur  will  excuse  me.' 

He  brought  himself,  pussy  cat  and  all,  to  a  chair  by 
Wych  Hazel's  side.  The  others  drew  off  a  little. 

'  I  am  going  away,'  he  said.  «  Business  takes  me  to 
New  York  for  a  week  or  two.  Possibly  to  Chicago  ;  but 
I  hope  not.  I  hope  to  bring  your  horses  back  with  me. 
Do  you  want  to  give  me  any  directions  respecting  them  ? ' 

'  Directions  ? — I  think  not.  O  yes  ! '  said  Hazel, 
touching  her  fingers  to  the  cat's  head  and  instantly  with- 
drawing them, — '  I  want  my  pony  to  be  very  fast.  Be- 
cause  '  but  there  she  stopped. 


THE   LOSS   OF   ALL   THINGS.  397 

'Well? 'said  he. 

4  That  is  all.' 

'It  is  unfinished.' 

'  Cannot  you  do  anything  without  knowing  why? ' 

'  Unbusinesslike.     But  I'll  do  my  best.' 

'  Well,'— said  Hazel,  '  I  told  Mr.  Falkirk.— Of  course  I 
like  to  go  fast,  for  its  own  sake, — and  then  if  I  ever  had 
to  ride  for  my  life  ! ' — 

It  was  spoken  so  demurely  that  only  her  cheeks  be- 
trayed her.  Over  their  treason  the  girl  grew  impatient. 

'  I  just  want  a  fast  horse.  Don't  you  know  what  that 
means,  without  explanation  ? ' 

'  Why  no,'  said  he,  probably  enjoying  his  advantage 
though  he  held  it  after  his  usual  undemonstrative  fashion. 
Excepting  that  his  eyes  took  a  further  advantage  which 
none  others  ever  did.  No  flattery  in  them,  nor  conven- 
tional deference,  and  nothing  like  Dr.  Maryland's  benign 
regard,  or  Mr.  Falkirk's  watchful  one.  Those  eyes  went 
down  into  hers  with  a  sort  of  grave  taking  possession,  or 
holding  it ;  something  more  than  benignity,  and  coming 
much  nearer  than  watchfulness.  Rollo's  manner  had 
often  an  indefinable  tinge  of  the  same  expression.  '  There 
are  so  many  sorts  of  fast  horses,'  he  went  on.  '  Do  you 
want  to  run  for  your  life  ?  or  canter  ?  or  trot  ? ' 

'Trot  in  ordinary — run  upon  occasion.' 

'  Is  trotting  your  favourite  gait  ? ' 

'  It  is  more  like  the  wind,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  I  re- 
member one  good  canter — but  all  the  rest  made  one 
think  of  the  snail  that  went  forward  three  feet  and  back 
two.' 

'  You  must  have  had  an  experience  !  I'll  try  and 
secure  both  for  you  ;  but  I  may  not  be  able,  just  at  first. 
Don't  you  want  to  take  pussy  into  safe  keeping  again  ? 


298  WYCH    HAZEL. 

I  am  afraid  she  would  not  approve  of  my  further  com- 
panionship.' 

'Well — give  her  to  me  then,'  she  said,  holding  out  her 
hands.  He  smiled  a  little  at  that,  dislodged  pussy  and 
placed  her  in  them,  then  rose  up  and  offered  his  own. 

A  party  of  gentlemen  came  up  the  steps  as  Dr.  Mary 
land  and  his  companions  went  down.  Clearly,  the 
thoughtful  time  of  the  morning  was  at  an  end. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

IN   THE   GERMAN. 

THERE  come,  sometimes,  in  certain  lives,  certain 
days  and  weeks  which  seem  to  be  all  adrift  and  be- 
yond legislation.  The  people  who  might  exercise  con- 
trol cannot ;  and  the  people  will  not  who  can  ;  and  so  the 
hours  sweep  on  in  a  rushing  stream  of  events  and  con- 
sequences, which  every  now  and  then  flings  somebody 
upon  the  rocks.  Or  it  may  be,  in  very  happy  cases, 
only  some  thing ;  but  until  this  is  made  sure  the  lookers- 
on  feel  anxious. 

So  felt  Mr.  Falkirk,  a  prisoner  still  with  his  lame  an- 
kle ;  so  felt  (probably)  Mr.  Rollo,  called  suddenly  away 
by  business  a  hundred  miles  off.  So  certainly  felt  Mrs. 
Bywank,  watching  her  young  lady  with  motherly  eyes. 
But  the  young  lady  herself  felt  quite  at  ease,  and  as  she 
had  said,  '  content.'  Why  not  ?  With  flowers  by  day 
and  serenades  by  night ;  with  game  from  every  bag  and 
trout  from  every  hook  ;  with  cavaliers  starting  up  out  of 
greensward  and  woodland  whenever  she  went  out;  with 
carriages  and  horsemen  always  at  the  door  when  she 
was  at  home.  The  serenades  indeed  were  shared  im- 
partially with  Mr.  Falkirk  and  Gotham ;  for  Wych  Ha- 
zel still  kept  her  room  in  the  cottage,  and  was  there  by 
night.  But  the  days  were  often  spent  in  the  house  on 
the  hill ;  and  the  distance  between  the  two  was  often — 
to  say  the  least — not  made  alone.  The  new  saddle- 


300  WYCH   HAZEL. 

horses  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  no  others  were  counte- 
nanced by  Mr.  Falkirk  ;  but  such  walks  had  their  facil- 
ities, even  without  the  possible  indoor  extensions  which 
sometimes  took  place.  And  for  evening  purposes  an 
equipage  had  been  arranged  which  relieved  Miss  Ken- 
nedy of  all  dependence  on  her  neighbours.  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk's  prostrate  condition  prevented  her  giving  any  en- 
tertainments as  yet;  but  she  went  everywhere,  with 
Gotham — grim  and  trusty — upon  the  box;  and  more 
and  more  the  days,  as  they  went  on,  brought  everybody 
to  her  feet.  It  was  excellent  fun !  For  it  is  really  de- 
lightful to  be  liked ;  and  admiring  looks  that  you  cannot 
quite  meet  have  yet  their  fascination,  and  the  words  you 
scarce  hear  have  their  charm.  Altogether  there  was  a 
strong  flavour  of  enchantment  abroad ;  and  it  seemed 
probable  that  the  prince  was  somewhere.  The  princess 
had  not  seen  him  yet,  that  she  knew  of  ;  but  undoubted- 
ly she  was  learning  that  some  day  she  might.  Yet  Ha- 
zel took  the  knowledge  in  a  pretty  way.  Too  innately 
true  to  flirt,  too  warm-hearted  to  trifle,  too  real  a  wo- 
man to  follow  in  the  steps  of  Kitty  Fisher ;  and,  it  may 
be  said,  thinking  far  too  much  of  herself  to  descend 
from  her  vantage  ground  of  feminine  reserve.  Perhaps 
there  was  no  one  thing  which  caught  and  held  her  ad- 
mirers like  this  :  the  real  girlish  dignity  which  made 
them  keep  their  proper  distance.  The  most  unscrupu- 
lous of  them  all  would  as  soon  have  dared  anything  as 
to  venture  (to  her)  an  unauthorized  touch,  or  a  word 
that  savoured  of  freedom.  So  far,  she  went  safe 
through  the  fire.  If  she  could  have  known,  poor  child, 
what  sort  of  a  fire  it  was;  if  her  thoughts  had  even 
dimly  imagined  what  men  old  in  the  world  may  be  ;  no 
kid  glove  nor  silken  tissue  would  have  been  deemed 


IN    THE   GERMAN.  30 1 

thick  enough  to  fend  off  the  contact.  But  she  knew 
nothing  of  all  that,  except  by  the  instinct  which  now 
and  then  gave  her  a  sudden  sheer.  As  it  was,  she  was 
intensely  amused,  and  half  out  of  her  wits  with  fun  and 
frolic  and  utter  light  heartedness ;  seeing  no  harm,  im- 
agining no  evil ;  quite  regardless  of  Mrs.  Bywank's  wise 
maxim  that  what  men  of  sense  disapprove,  a  woman — • 
as  a  rule— had  better  not  do.  And  for  a  while  there 
were  not  men  of  sense  at  hand  to  give  her  counsel. 

Mr.  Falkirk  looked  on  from  too  great  a  distance  to 
point  his  strictures  ;  Gotham's  grumbles  over  the  ser- 
enades and  the  cavaliers  only  helped  the  excitement. 
And  since  Mr.  Falkirk  would  not  let  her  fling  her  writ- 
ten thanks  out  of  the  window,  the  spoken  thanks  fol- 
lowed, as  a  matter  of  course,  and  effected  quite  as  much. 

And  yet,  you  will  say,  no  harm  came,  and  everything 
was  as  it  should  be.  Well,  there  are  some  who  plunge 
through  the  mud  ankle-deep ;  and  there  are  others  that 
go  but  over  shoe ;  and  here  and  there  one  that  crosses 
on  tiptoe ;  but  you  would  rather  that  they  all  chose  a 
better  road.  And  intoxication  is  not  a  good  thing, 
whatever  may  be  the  means  thereto  ;  and  the  sweet, 
fresh  years  of  which  Dr.  Maryland  had  spoken,  were 
quite  too  precious  to  be  spun  off  to  the  music  of  Strauss, 
or  wilted  down  by  late  hours,  or  given  up  wholly  to 
hearing  that  Miss  Kennedy  was  the  one  of  all  the 
world.  Not  so  do  natures  enlarge  and  characters  de- 
velop to  their  fairest  proportions  ;  not  so  do  souls  grow 
strong  and  noble  for  the  coming  work  of  life. 

Kitty  Fisher  was  not  exactly  jealous  of  all  this, — or 
had  too  much  sense  to  shew  it ;  but  deep  in  her  heart 
she  did  wish  she  could  dismount  Wych  Hazel  from  her 
pedestal,  that  comparisons  might  be  made  on  level 


302  WYCH    HAZEL. 

ground.  Kitty  would  not  have  been  timid,  for  the  world ; 
and  yet  the  shy  blushes  which  came  as  freely  as  ever  to 
Miss  Kennedy's  cheeks  did  somehow  give  her  a  pang. 
And  while  nothing  could  have  bought  off  her  daring 
speech  and  behaviour,  she  yet  knew  it  was  a  pretty  thin^ 
to  have  the  deference  which  always  approached  the 
young  lady  of  Chicharee. 

'  I  must  get  that  out  of  her,'  she  said  to  herself. 
'  She's  bound  to  give  it  up.  Wait  till  I  get  her  fairly 
into  the  German  ! ' 

And  so  far  she  succeeded.  Miss  Kennedy  did  get 
'  fairly  in,' — but  as  yet  the  rest  of  the  plan  had  failed. 
Hazel  danced,  and  led,  and  followed,  in  the  wildest 
gaiety,  within  certain  limits;  beyond  them  she  would 
not  go  ;  meeting  all  Kitty  Fisher's  proposals  with  a 
look  of  incredulous  disgust  and  surprise  that  generally 
cut  short  the  business  for  that  time.  And  gentlemen 
who  stood  by  laughed  and  applauded  ;  and  if  Ha- 
zel had  known  just  why  they  clapped  hands,  and  just 
what  she  was  avoiding,  she  would  have  wanted  to  stand 
no  longer  in  their  neighbourhood  just  then. 

Balls  followed  dinners,  and  one  German  came  close 
on  the  heels  of  another,  with  pic-nics,  boating  parties, 
croquet  parties,  and  open-air  breakfasts  ;  and  every- 
where the  young  queen  held  her  court ;  with  beauty, 
and  grace,  and  money,  and  a  faultless  toilet. 

Now  in  the  selfishness  of  this  self-seeking  world,  our 
interest  in  a  thing,  our  judgment  of  it,  does  very  much 
depend  upon  its  connection  with  ourselves.  Have  we 
any  shares  in  the  field  for  sale  ? — if  not,  why,  manage  it 
as  you  will,  sunshine  and  clouds  are  alike  to  us.  But  if 
we  have,  the  interest  of  the  matter  changes  at  once,  and 
we  are  blind  no  more. 


IN    THE   GERMAN.  303 

Following  upon  sundry  other  festivities  came  a  brilliant 
German  at  Mme.  Lasalle's.  Thither  came  everybody, 
in  proper  time  ;  thither,  rather  late,  and  fresh-returned 
from  his  journey,  came  Mr.  Rollo ;  and  making  his  way 
easily  along,  through  rooms  ablaze  with  light  and  almost 
faint  with  flowers,  he  reached  a  point  where  '  The  Thread 
of  Destiny'  was  in  full  progress,  tangling  itself  up  about 
Wych  Hazel.  It  was  impossible  not  to  make  her  the 
centre  of  the  group,  though  six  ladies  stood  there  to- 
gether ;  and  about  them  all,  one  end  of  a  long  white 
ribband  in  his  hand,  danced  Mr.  Nightingale — not  say- 
ing, exactly — 

'  I  wind,  I  wind, 
Hoping  my  true  love  to  find  ' — 

but  perhaps  thinking  it  in  his  heart ;  for  when  coil  after 
coil  had  gone  round  the  blooming  prisoners,  and  the 
white  sheen  came  suddenly  to  an  end  at  Wych  Hazel,  it 
was  with  very  evident  satisfaction  that  Mr.  Nightingale 
took  her  hand  and  led  her  out — his  partner  by  the  thread 
of  destiny. 

Nothing  could  be  prettier  than  she  was  through  it  all ; 
neither  giggling  nor  smirking,  nor  making  remarks  like 
Miss  Powder  and  the  rest ;  her  lovely  shoulders  veiled 
beyond  all  reach  of  criticism,  her  eyes  intent  upon  the 
ribband,  her  thoughts  intent  upon  the  game.  So  that 
when  all  came  to  a  climax  at  her,  she  laughed  right  out 
— the  merriest  laugh  of  glee  and  satisfaction.  Very 
pretty  !  — was  it  anything  more  ?  Do  you  (apart  from 
dancing)  give  your  daintiest  possessions  into  common 
hands  ?  Why,  you  will  not.  let  a  servant  even  dust  the 
china  shepherdess  on  your  mantel-piece  ! — but  any  hands 
that  you  know — and  any  that  you  don't  know — may 
touch  and  clasp  and  support  the  young  daughters  and 


304  WYCH    HAZEL. 

sisters  of  your  love,  and  whirl  them  about  the  room,  as 
you  would  not  have  your  shepherdess  treated  for  all  the 
world. 

Cajolements  did  not  avail  that  evening  to  induce  Mr. 
Rollo  to  dance  ;  and  they  were  tried.  He  was  in  what 
Wych  Hazel  might  have  called  a  very  Spanish  mood. 
Not  to  her ;  indeed  he  never  approached  her  nor  sought 
to  interrupt  the  pretensions  of  those  who  crowded  round 
her,  courting  her  favour  and  worshipping  her  pleasure, 
and  craving  to  be  made  ministers  of  the  same.  She  was 
in  a  throng,  and  he  did  not  try  to  penetrate  it.  Why  he 
stayed  so  long  was  a  mystery;  for  what  is  a  German  if 
you  do  not  dance  ?  He  was  not  a  mere  idle  spectator, 
nor  idle  at  all,  it  is  true ;  he  made  himself  busy  enough, 
taking  elderly  ladies  to  supper  and  serving  younger  ones 
with  beef-tea ;  but  those  are  not  engrossing  amusements. 
Mme.  Lasalle  declared  he  was  very  useful ;  and  watched 
to  see  what  it  meant ;  but  beyond  that  he  could  not 
be  seen  to  look  at  anybody  in  particular,  she  could  re- 
solve herself  of  nothing.  Certainly  he  took  leave  a  little 
before  Wych  Hazel  left  the  room;  they  were  not  to- 
gether, the  lady  was  sure. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

IN     THE     ROCKAWAY. 

WHEN,  however,  a  little  later,  that  young  lady  came 
forth  to  her  carriage,  attended  as  usual  by  a  ret- 
inue of  servitors,  a  single  figure  was  standing  by  her 
carriage  door.  He  stood  aside  to  let  the  devotees  put 
Wych  Hazel  into  the  little  rockaway  which  was  her  sole 
present  equipage;  but  when  the  last  words  had  been 
said  and  the  last  man  stepped  back,  Rollo  stood  at  the 
door  before  Dingee  had  time  to  shut  it. 

'Will  you  give  me  a  seat  as  far  as  Mr.  Falkirk's  ? '  he 
said,  looking  in. 

Now  when  you  have  not  seen  a  person  for  six  weeks 
or  so,  a  request  for  a  seat  in  your  carriage  is  not  gener- 
ally the  opening  remark,  and  Wych  Hazel  paused  in  a 
sort  of  astonishment.  Then  another  thing  made  her 
hesitate. 

'  If  you  will  answer  it  to  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said.  'You 
know  I  am  forbidden  to  give  any  one  a  seat  in  my  car- 
riage. Have  you  a  special  permit,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'I  never  ask  for  what  I  cannot  have,' he  said,  jumping 
in.  And  then  he  offered  her  his  hand.  '  How  do  you 
do?' 

'  Very  well.  I  should  think  that  must  make  you  an 
adept  in  Prim's  beloved  art  of  waiting,'  said  Wych 
Hazel. 

'If  the  lesson  must  be  learnt,   I  would  rather  wait 


306  WYCH    HAZEL. 

before  asking.  After  that,  I  believe  I  do  not  know  how  to 
practise  it.  How  do  you  feel  about  waiting  for  your 
horses  ? ' 

'  Feeling  is  dead,  and  impatience  is  all  tired  out  with 
hard  work  and  want  of  sympathy.  So  it  is  pretty  quiet 
just  now.' 

'  Want  of  sympathy  ? '  he  said,  inquiringly. 

'Yes.  I  used  to  fume  about  it  a  little,  but  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk  only  said  "  My  dear,"  and  a  few  other  things  of  a 
cooing  nature.' 

'  I  believe  I  have  brought  you  what  you  will  like.' 

'  O,  have  you  ? '  said  the  girl,  with  her  musical  intona- 
tions, and  a  degree  of  eagerness  which  spoke  impatience 
in  fair  condition.  '  You  are  very  good  to  take  so  much 
trouble,  Mr.  Rollo !  But  I  am  more  glad  than  you  can 
imagine.' 

'  Then  I  am  very  glad,'  said  he.  *  Will  you  trust  me 
to  drive  you  the  rest  of  the  way,  if  I  displace  Mr. 
Gotham  ?  I  share  your  infirmity  of  impatience  some- 
times.' 

'  An  infirmity,  you  call  it  ? — Well,  displace  anybody 
you  like,  but  me,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  arranging  herself  in 
a  small  luxury  of  fatigue  against  the  not  too  luxurious 
back  of  the  rockaway.  Her  companion  was  silent  a  few 
minutes  until  the  carriage  passed  out  from  the  Mos- 
cheloo  grounds  and  had  gone  a  few  rods  ;  then  he  tap- 
ped Mr.  Falkirk's  factotum  on  the  shoulder. 

'  Mr.  Gotham,'  said  he,  in  tones  of  pleasant  authority, 
'  I  can't  stand  anybody's  driving  but  my  own  to-night. 
Stop,  if  you  please.  You  and  Dingee  may  take  a  place 
with  my  man  ;  my  trap  is  just  behind.  Tell  him  to  keep 
close  and  follow.' 

'  Sorry  to  do  h'anything  that  looks  un'ansome,  sir,' 


IN    THE    ROCK  A  WAY.  307 

said  Gotham,  swallowing  his  surprise  with  the  adroit- 
ness of  long  practice,  '  but  I  'ave  Miss  'Azel  in  charge, 
sir.' 

'  You  had,  my  friend.  I  will  relieve  you.  Corne,  jump 
out,  and  don't  keep  your  young  lady  waiting.'  The 
voice  was  of  calm  authority  which  most  people  under- 
stand and  obey.  And  Wych  Hazel  laughed. 

'  I'm  sure  I  can't  say  what  Mr.  Falkirk  will  think,  sir  ! ' 
said  Gotham,  in  a  displeased  voice.  '  'Owever — I  will 
h'assume  it's  h'all  right,  sir. — Though  why  he  couldn't 
drive  his  h'own  team,  if  he'd  such  an  'ankering  for  the 
ribbands,'  he  muttered  to  Dingee  as  he  got  down,  '  I'm 
sure  is  a  perplexity.' 

'Wanted  to  drive  Missee  Hazel,'  said  Dingee,  climb- 
ing like  a  cat  into  the  other  conveyance,  and  proceed- 
ing to  drive  Mr.  Rollo's  man  nearly  out  of  his  wits. 
'You  never  does  sound  de  gen'lman,  Mas'  Gotham. 
Telled  you  so-  long  ago.' 

Having  got  his  wish,  Mr.  Rollo  drove  regularly 
enough  for  a  mile  or  two  ;  till  all  carriages  going  their 
way  had  passed  before  or  dropped  behind  or  turned  off, 
and  they  had  the  road  •  entirely  to  themselves.  The 
moon  was  riding  high,  and  though  an  old  moon,  gave 
enough  light  to  make  driving  a  thing  of  no  difficulty. 
Thus  far  Rollo  had  driven  in  comparative  silence,  with 
only  a  word  or  two  occasionally  to  Wych  Hazel.  He 
had  not  removed  himself  by  any  means  out  of  her  com- 
panionship, but  throwing  himself  sideways  on  the  front 
seat  of  the  carriage,  looked  sometimes  out  and  some- 
times in.  Now,  when  the  road  was  their  own,  and  the 
old  horse  could  find  his  way  along  with  very  little  guid- 
ing, and  the  moonlight  seemed  to  illuminate  nothing  so 
much  as  the  stillness,  Rollo  turned  his  head  and  spoke. 


308  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Miss  Kennedy,  do  you  like  to  have  people  come 
suing  to  you  with  petitions  ? ' 

'  I  think  I  might — if  I  could  answer  them  myself,'  she 
said,  thinking  of  some  that  had  been  preferred  that 
night.  'But  when  my  yes  or  no  depends  on  somebody 
else,  it  is  rather  stupid.  One  tires  of  a  perpetual  ref- 
eree at  one's  back.' 

1  This  depends  on  nobody  but  you.  But  I  am  rush- 
ing into  the  middle  of  things,'  said  Rollo,  giving  the  old 
steed  an  intimation  that  he  need  not  absolutely  fall  back 
upon  walking.  '  Miss  Kennedy,  I  am  coming  to  you 
with  a  great  petition  to-night — and  I  am  too  impatient 
to  wait  for  it.' 

'  Mr.  Rollo  with  a  petition  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel.  'And 
impatient !  Well — then  why  does  he  wait  ? ' 

His  voice  told  well  enough  why  he  waited,  at  least  in 
part ;  the  earnestness  of  it  was  so  blended  with  not  a 
little  anxiety  and  not  a  little  tenderness.  He  spoke 
slowly. 

'  Miss  Hazel,'  he  said,  '  you  have  neither  father  nor 
mother  nor  brother  nor  sister.  I  am  almost  as  much 
alone  in  the  world.  May  I  speak  to  you  as  one  who 
knows  what  it  means  ? ' 

' "  It  ? "  — being  alone  ? '  she  said. 

'  Just  that.  Having  no  one  near  enough  to  care  or 
dear  enough  to  dare,  what  would  be  for  your  happiness. 
As  it  is  so  with  you,  and  I  know  it,  may  I  for  once  step 
into  the  gap,  without  being  too  severely  punished  by  you 
for  my  venturing  ? ' 

'  Why  I  thought  you  always  ventured, — everything  ! ' 
she  said,  sitting  up  now  in  her  surprise. 

'  Then  shall  I  make  my  petition  ?  I  never  dared  so 
much  in  my  life  as  I  am  daring  now.' 


IN   THE    ROC KA WAY.  309 

'Of  course  you  may  make  it,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  'As 
fast  as  you  like.  I  shall  begin  to  be  impatient  too.' 

'  If  you  choose  to  question  me  for  my  reasons,  I  will 
have  the  honour  to  give  them.  Or  if  you  ask  what 
right  I  have  to  move  in  the  matter,  I  will  answer  that, 
too.' 

'  Beforehand  ? ' 

'  Certainly.     If  you  wish.' 

'  No  matter,'  she  said,  with  a  slight  laugh  which  was 
yet  a  little  disturbed.  What  was  looming  up  behind  this 
barricade  of  preliminaries  ?  '  I  thought  you  based  your 
right  just  now —  But  never  mind.  Go  on,  please.' 

He  was  silent  nevertheless  a  minute,  while  the  old 
horse  came  to  an  unchallenged  slow  walk.  Then  Rollo 
ungloved  his  right  hand  and  held  it  out. 

1 1  cannot  see  your  face,'  said  he.  '  Give  me  your 
hand,  so  that  I  may  know,  while  I  hold  it,  that  you  are 
not  displeased.' 

'  Why,  Mr.  Rollo ! '  said  Hazel,  with  the  same  half 
laugh,  '  you  are  very — extraordinary  !  It  strikes  me  your 
one  petition  covers  a  good  many.  Must  I  take  the 
glove  off  ? — if  you  are  to  be  indulged.' 

'  There  J '  said  he,  taking  her  hand  in  the  same  warm 
firm  grasp  she  had  known  before.  '  I  am  going  to  ask 
you  to  promise  me  something — that  it  will  not  be  pleas- 
ant to  promise.  Miss  Hazel' — speaking  low  and  slowly — 
'  do  not  dance  round  dances  any  more  !  ' 

The  tone  was  low,  also  it  was  very  earnest  and  very 
grave. 

'What  ?'  she  said,  in  a  sort  of  but  half  comprehending 
way.  '  Why  not  ?  what  is  the  matter  with  them  ?  I  am 
hardly  the  least  bit  tired.' 

'  You  don't  know  ! '  he  said,  with  a  slight  pressure  of 


3IO  WYCH   HAZEL. 

the  hand  he  held.  '  You  don't  know.  This  is  why  not, 
Miss  Hazel — that  I  would  not  see  my  sister  in  them. 
Do  you  understand  ? ' 

'  O  yes, '  she  answered.  '  I  have  seen  people  before 
who  did  not  like  dancing, — two  or  three,  perhaps.  But 
there  is  always  somebody  to  dislike  everything,  I  think. 
You  do  not  enjoy  it  yourself,  Mr.  Rollo, — and  so  you  do 
not  know.' 

'  I  have  danced  twenty  dances  where  you  have  danced 
one.  I  know  what  they  are  made  of.  You  only  know 
how  they  look.' 

'  Hardly  that,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  I  know  a  little  how 
they  feel.  I  have  never  had  an  outside  view,  I  believe.' 

'  Can  you  do  me  the  great  honour  to  take  my  view, — 
and  my  word  for  it  ? ' 

'  If  you  liked  flying  to  music  as  well  as  I  do,  you  would 
take  mine,'  she  said.  '  Air  is  better  than  earth,  when 
you  can  get  it.' 

'  Do  you  think  I  would  wish  to  interfere  with  your 
pleasure,  or  presume  to  interfere  with  your  actions,  with- 
out reasons  so  strong  that  I  can  hardly  express  their 
significance  ?  Believe  me,  if  you  knew  these  round 
dances  as  well  as  I  know  them,  you  would  never  be 
mixed  up  in  one  of  them  any  more.' 

'  Mixed  up  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Do  you  suppose 
I  do  all  the  wild  things  some  people  do,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'No,'  he  said  ;  but  he  left  his  plea  standing. 

'  Well  then  what  is  the  matter  ?  If  ever  you  hear  of 
my  "  exchanging  hospitalities,"  I  will  give  you  leave  for 
a  lecture  a  mile  long.' 

'  Your  eyes  are  innocent  eyes  and  do  not  see.  Can 
you  not  trust  me  far  enough  to  act  upon  my  knowledge, 
and  distrust  yours  ? ' 


IN   THE   ROCKAWAY.  31! 

1  But  trusting  you  does  not  make  me  distrust  myself/ 
she  said*  '  And  even  Prim  confessed  to  me  once  that 
you  do  occasionally  make  mistakes.' 

'  I  do  not  in  this,'  said  he,  very  gravely.  '  Yet  there  is 
no  particular  reason  why  you  should  believe  me.  Miss 
Kennedy — you  cannot  continue  this  pastime,  and  keep 
yourself.' 

'  What  do  you  mean  ? '  she  said  quickly. 

'  You  cannot  remain  just  what  you  are.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  thinks  there  is  room  for  improvement,' 
said  Wych  Hazel,  with  some  coldness  ;  '  but  your  words 
seem  to  point  the  other  way.  Perhaps  you  will  be  kind 
enough  to  tell  me  at  once  all  that  you  think  it  needful  I 
should  hear  in  the  connexion.' 

'  You  need  not  take  that  tone,'  he  said  ;  '  but  perhaps 
I  must  displease  you.  Miss  Kennedy,  I  have  always 
thought  of  you  as  one  who  would  never  permit  a  liberty 
to  be  taken  with  her.' 

'  I  am  happy  that  we  agree  for  once,'  she  said,  with  a 
lift  of  the  eyebrows  and  a  voice  to  match.  '  It  is  precisely 
the  way  in  which  I  have  always  thought  of  myself.' 

'  Follow  that  out ! '  said  he  half  laughing,  and  at  the 
same  time  clasping  a  little  closer  the  hand  he  held. 

'  Well — I  have  followed  it  out  all  my  life.  I  never 
do,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  Not  knowingly.  But —  How  shall  I  tell  you  ! '  said 
he,  in  a  sort  of  despair.  And  the  old  horse  found  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  move  on. 

'  It  must  be  said  ! '  he  broke  out  again,  '  and  there  is 
no  one  but  me  to  do  it.  Miss  Hazel,  you  allowed  liber- 
ties to  be  taken  with  you  to-night.' 

The  little  hand  he  was  holding  shrank  perceptibly. 
Not  twitching  itself  away,  but  as  it  were  withdrawing 


312  WYCH   HAZEL. 

itself  into  itself,  and  away  from  him.  Otherwise  she 
sat  absolutely  still. 

'  Unconsciously,1  he  went  on.  '  You  'did  not  know  it. 
The  pleasure  of  the  play  kept  you  from  knowing  what 
it  implied.' 

'  Allowed,  did  you  say  ? ' 

'Look  back  and  think,'  said  he,  calmly. 

'  As  if  they  could,  without  my  knowing  it ! '  she  ex- 
claimed. '  As  if  they  would  ! ' — 

'  Look  back  and  think,'  he  said. 

'  Well,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  look  back  and  think ! 
And  I  find  the  most  extreme  deference,  and — nothing 
else  that  touches  the  question.' 

He  drew  a  sort  of  short,  impatient  sigh,  and  waited  a 
moment.  Then  leaned  over  towards  her  again  and 
spoke  slowly. 

'  Six  weeks  ago,'  he  said,  '  two  little  hands  would  not 
come  near  enough  to  my  shoulder  to  take  the  kitten  from 
it.  And  I  loved  them  for  the  distance  they  kept.' 

The  girl  drew  suddenly  back,  freeing  her  hand  now 
with  a  swiftness  that  told  of  a  deep  hurt  somewhere. 
For  a  moment  she  did  not  speak — then  only  a  breath- 
less— 

'Well?' 

'  Is  that  displeasure  ? '  he  said. 

*  When  have  I  shortened  the  distance  ? '  But  the 
words  were  defiant  with  pain,  not  anger.  And  Rollo  on 
his  part  remained  perfectly  still  and  perfectly  silent,  not 
even  seeming  to  know  how  the  old  horse  was  going  to 
please  himself. 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  still,  outwardly,  than 
the  white-robed  figure  in  the  corner, — and  nothing  need 
be  more  inwardly  tumultuous. 


IN    THE    ROCKAWAY.  313 

'  If  it  was  an  open  wagon,'  she  thought  to  herself,  'I 
should  jump  out — over  the  back  or  somewhere ! '  O 
this  having  men  talk  to  one !  And  what  was  he  talking 
about  ?  and  what  had  she  done  ? — she  who  had  done 
nothing !  Except — '  dance  better  than  ever  anybody 
danced  before  ! '  '  For  the  distance  they  kept ' — and 
when  did  not  her  hands  keep  their  distance  from  every 
one  !  How  many  times  that  very  evening  had  she  been 
voted  '  cruel,'  for  refusing  some  favour  which  other  girls 
granted  freely?  Mr.  Rollo,  too  ! — who  had  praised  her 
'womanliness  ' — But  with  that  the  womanish  element  pre- 
vailed, and  there  came  a  quiver  of  lip,  and  for  an  in- 
stant her  hands  were  folded  across  her  eyes.  Then 
down  again,  to  hold  each  other  in  order. 

And  yet  her  hand  had  been  on  twenty  shoulders  th;.t 
evening,  and  twenty  arms  had  encircled  her  ! 

There  was  an  interval  of  some  length. 

'  Miss  Hazel,'  said  Rollo  at  length,  and  her  voice  was 
clear  and  manly,  '  have  I  offended  you  ? ' 

'  No ' — under  her  breath.     '  I — suppose  not.' 

'  Do  you  want  me  to  give,  if  I  can,  some  justification 
of  myself  ? ' 

'There  is  none.  Except  that  you  did  not  mean  to 
say  what  you  said.' 

'  I  meant  no  justification  of  my  words,'  said  he,  gently 
but  steadily.  '  If  you  want  that,  it  is,  that  they  were 
spoken  to  save  you  from  harm.' 

'  Ah ! '  she  said  with  a  half  cry, — then  checked  her- 
self. '  What  else  does  Mr.  Rollo  wish  to  justify  ? ' 

'  Only  my  right  to  speak  them  ; — if  you  did,  as  you 
might, — question  it.'  He  paused  a  little,  and  went  on. 
'I  can  give  you  only  half  of  my  plea,  but  half  will  do. 
It  is,  that  your  father  and  mother  dearly  loved  mine.' 


3 14  WYCH    HAZEL. 

It  was  all  Ha/el  could  do  to  bear  her  mother's  name 
just  then.  Her  hands  took  a  sudden  grip  of  each  other, 
but  no  answer  came.  Not  for  some  time  :  then  words 
low  and  softly  spoken — 

'  I  think  I  asked  for  no  plea,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  Then  if  you  are  content  with  it,'  said  he,  in  a  lighter 
tone,  'give  me  your  hand  once  more,  only  for  a  moment 
this  lime.' 

She  hesitated — then  held  it  out.  He  bent  down  and 
gave  it  a  swift,  earnest  kiss ;  after  which  he  turned  his 
attention  to  his  driving  duties,  for  some  time  neglected, 
till  Mr.  Kalkirk's  cottage  was  gained.  As  he  took  Wych 
Ha/el  out  of  the  carriage,  he  said, 

4  It 's  so  late,  if  you  don't  forbid  me,  I  am  going  up  to 
my  old  friend,  Mrs.  Itywank,  to  ask  her  to  give  me  lodg- 
ing to-night.' 

Hazel  bowed  her  head  in  token  that  he  might  do  as  he 
pleased,  giving  no  other  reply.  But  it  is  safe  to  say  that, 
by  this  time,  ideas  and  thoughts  and  feelings  and  pain, 
and — 'other  things,'  as  she  would  have  phrased  it,  were 
so  inextricably  mixed  up  in  the  girl's  head,  that  she  hard- 
ly knew  which  was  which  and  which  was  not.  She 
walked  steadily  in, — then  gave  about  two  springs  to  her 
brown  corner  room,  and  locked  the  door. 


CHAI'TKK  XXVIL 

TIIK   GKKMAN    AT   OAK    HILL. 

MR.  FALKIKK  was  not  disturbed  that  night  with 
being  tolrl  anything.  Hut  when  the  sun  had 
risen  fair  and  clear  over  the  green  world  of  Chickaree, 
and  Gotham  moved  silently  about  the  breakfast,  table, 
Mr.  Falkirk  might  notice  from  his  sofa  that  but  one  <  up 
and  saucer  stood  on  the  tray,  and  but  one  plate  near  to 
bear  it  company.  If  Mr.  Kalkirk's  nerves  were  riot  in 
order,  they  might  have  been  tried  ;  for  (iotham  certainly 
seemed  to  have  borrowed  the  cat's  shoe*  for  the  occa- 
sion. 

'Why  don't  you  set  the  table  as  usual  ?'  came  pretty 
peremptorily  from  the  sofa. 

'  Miss  'A/el  'ave  sent  word  she  was  h'aslcep,  sir,'  said 
Gotham,  with  extra  dignity. 

'Then  why  don't  you  wait  till  she  is  awake,  slowbead  ? 
as  usual.  It  is  not  eight  o'clock  yet.' 

'H'also  that  she  'as  no  h'inlentions  of  h'ever  waking 
h'up,  sir/ 

So  Mr.  Falkirk  took  his  breakfast  with  a  dissatisfied 
mind.  For  it  is  safe  to  say,  he  was  so  accustomed  by 
this  time  to  his  gay  little  ward's  company  and  ministra- 
tions, that  coffee  was  not  coffee  without  her..  Gotham 
did  his  duty  in  a  more  than  usually  taciturn  fashion,  and 
Mr.  Falkirk's  breakfast  was  at  an  end  before  the  facto- 
tum unburdened  hi*  mind. 


316  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Beg  pardon,  sir,'  he  said,  drawing  himself  up  behind 
his  master  ;  'but  'ow  are  your  h'orders  concerning  Miss 
'Azel  to  be  h'understood,  sir  ? ' 

'  Orders  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

You  distinctly  said  and  h'indicated,  sir,  that  I  was  to 
drive  Miss  'Azel  to  and  from,  sir, — if  my  mind  serves 
me,'  said  Gotham. 

'  And  if  my  mind  serves  me,  you  have  driven  her  forty 
times.' 

'Quite  correct,  sir — and  more,' said  Gotham.  'The 
point  h'is,  Mr.  Falkirk,  what's  to  be  done  when  young 
gents  come  taking  the  h'orders  h'out  of  my  very  'ands, 
sir?' 

'  Knock  'em  down.' 

'  The  first  natural  h'impulse,  sir.  But  put  a  case  that 
they're  in  the  knockin'  down  style  too  ? — then  I'm  left  in 
the  road,  and  Miss  'Azel  without  a  protector.' 

'Who's  been  knocking  you  down  now,  Gotham? ' 

'  No  one,  sir ; — I  'ope  I  know  my  business  better,'  said 
Gotham.  '  Tspeak  of  the  h'inevitable.  And  Mr.  Rollo 
would  drive  Miss  'Azel  'ome  last  night,  and  she  gave  me 
no  better  h'assistance  than  one  of  her  laughs,  sir.' 
Clearly  it  rang  in  his  ears  yet. 

'You  had  better  not  meddle  with  what  don't  belong  to 
you,  my  friend.  If  Miss  Hazel  had  desired  your  assist- 
ance, it  would  have  been  time  enough  to  give  it  to  her.' 

'  Very  good,  sir, — h'all  settled,  sir,' — and  Gotham  car- 
ried off  the  tray  with  a  face  of  mixed  perplexity  and 
wisdom  that  was  funny  to  see.  But  the  sunshine  crept 
on  through  the  little  study,  and  it  was  well-nigh  time  to 
set  the  table  again,  before  the  door  opened  softly  and 
Wych  Hazel  came  in  :  two  exquisite  roses  in  her  cheeks, 
in  her  hand — by  way  of  excuse — a  basket  of  wonderful 


THE   GERMAN    AT   OAK    HILL.  317 

hot-house  grapes.  How  glad  she  had  been  to  take  them 
from  Dingee  at  the  door. 

'  Well,  my  dear  ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  with  an  accent  of 
unmistakeable  pleasure,  and  something  behind  it,  'you 
have  slept  long  to-day.  Were  you  home  so  late  ? ' 

'  I  suppose  it  was  late,  sir.  I  lost  no  time,  and  so 
took  no  note.  How  do  you  do  to-day,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

'  Able  to  move,  I  think.  I  shall  get  about  in  a  day  or 
two  more.' 

'  Here  are  some  grapes,  sir,  to  hasten  the  cure.'  She 
put  the  basket  in  his  hand,  and  passed  on  to  a  low 
seat  at  the  head  of  the  sofa.  Mr.  Falkirk  looked 
at  them,  and  his  tone  changed  to  the  accustomed 
growl. 

'  Where  are  these  from  ? ' 

'  Major  Seaton,  I  believe,  is  responsible,'  said  the  girl 
carelessly. 

'  How  many  several  people  are  after  you  at  this  pres- 
ent, Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Difficult  to  say,  sir,  without  more  extensive  inquiries 
than  I  have  made.  Your  words  do  not  put  an  attractive 
face  upon  the  matter.' 

'  Is  there  any  such  thing  in  the  lot  ? '  asked  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk, discontentedly. 

'As  an  attractive  face  ?  O  yes,  sir,  several.  Quite  a 
number,  I  should  say,'  replied  Miss  Hazel,  with  a  critical 
air. 

'  And  all  of  them  at  Moscheloo  ? ' 

'  All  what,  sir?  Your  English  is  hardly  so  pointed  as 
usual — if  you  will  excuse  me  for  saying  it.' 

'You  were  speaking  of  attractive  faces,  my  dear.  I 
should  say  that  your  syntax  wanted  attention.' 

'  I  did  not  know  but  you  referred  to  "  the  lot,"  '  said 


318  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Wych  Hazel.  'There  was  the  usual  mingling,  I  think,  of 
attractive  and  unattractive.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  was  silent  till  dinner  was  served,  and  then 
attended  to  that. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  Hazel  began  suddenly,  when  Gotham 
had  retired,  '  /believe  you  could  move  now.  Come  ! — 
go  with  me  to  Oak  Hill  to-night, — will  you,  sir  ? ' 

'  Oak  Hill,'  said  her  guardian.  '  Mrs.  Seaton's.  What 
is  to  be  done  there  ? ' 

'A  promenade  concert — nominally.' 

'  That  sounds  something  to  me  like  a  dancing  dinner. 
What  does  it  mean,  my  dear  ? ' 

1  Just  what  I  said,  in  the  first  place,  sir.  If  Kitty 
Fisher  and  the  Powders  are  there,  it  may  turn  into  some- 
thing else.' 

'  And  what  does  a  promenade  concert  turn  into,  when 
it  is  enchanted  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  A  succession  of  dances — it  might.' 

'  Well,  my  dear — what  should  I  do  in  a  succession  of 
dances  ? ' 

She  laughed, — just  a  little.  Laughs  were  not  ready 
to-night.  '  Sit  still,  sir,  and  watch  me.' 

'  It  strikes  me  I  do  enough  of  that  as  it  is,  without 
going  to  Oak  Hill.  Do  you  want  more  than  you  will 
have  to  watch  you?.' 

The  word  jarred.  She  was  silent  a  minute.  Then 
earnestly — 

'  I  wish  you  would,  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

A  new  expression  on  Mr.  Falkirk's  face  shewed  that 
a  new  idea  had  occurred  to  him. 

'  What  does  this  mean  ? '  he  asked  gently,  bending  on 
his  ward  one  of  his  keen  looks  from  under  the  thick 
eyebrows. 


THE   GERMAN    AT    OAK    HILL.  319 

She  answered  without  looking  at  him, 

'  It  means  what  it  says,  sir.' 

1  What  is  the  matter,  my  dear  ? '  came  more  sympa- 
thizingly  than  Mr.  Falkirk's  wont.  It  was  even  a  little 
low  and  tender. 

'  Why,  Mr.  Falkirk — is  it  such  an  unreasonable  request, 
that  you  should  be  so  keen  after  reasons  ? ' 

'  I  do  not  know  that  it  is  unreasonable,  but  you  know 
that  it  is  unwonted.  You  have  not  been  apt  to  wish  for 
more  guarding  than  you  have  had,  Miss  Hazel.  Cannot 
you  tell  me  what  makes  you  desire  it  now  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  did  not  growl  now,  nor  draw  his  brows 
together ;  he  was  in  patient  earnest,  seeing  cause. 

'  I  did  not  say  to  guard  me,  sir.  Sometimes,'  said 
Hazel,  choosing  her  words,  '  sometimes  it  might  be 
pleasant  to  have  somebody  in  the  room  to  whom  I  was 
supposed  to  belong — just  a  little  bit.  How  do  you  like 
Major  Seaton's  grapes,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  drew  his  brows  together  no\v,  and  spite 
of  his  weak  ankle  got  up  and  paced  across  the  floor 
thoughtfully.  Then  came  to  a  sudden  stop  in  front  of 
Wych  Hazel. 

'  Has  anybody  annoyed  you  ? '  he  asked. 

'  By  "  annoyed  "  you  mean  ?  — ' 

'  Made  you  feel  the  want  of  a  protector  ;  or  of  some- 
body, as  you  say,  that  you  belong  to.'  Mr.  Falkirk's 
brows  were  drawing  very  thick  together  indeed. 

'  No,  I  think  not,'  she  answered.  '  Not  intentionally. 
People  are  very  good  to  me  ;  very  respectful,  I  believe. 
But  I  must  go  and  see  that  my  dress  is  in  order.  I 
shall  wear  blue  to  night,  Mr.  Falkirk — and  you  like 
blue.'  She  made  him  a  profound  little  courtesy,  and 
danced  off  out  of  the  room. 


320  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Mr.  Falkirk's  cogitations,  to  judge  by  his  eyebrows,  were 
also  profound,  when  his  ward  had  left  him  alone.  They 
did  not  issue  in  any  resolve  to  re-enter  the  gay  world, 
however,  which  had  never  been  Mr.  Falkirk's  sphere ; 
and  Miss  Kennedy  went  to  Oak  Hill  alone.  Had  she 
been  made  to  '  feel  her  want  of  a  protector  ? ' — On  the 
contrary  ! — Or  '  annoyed  '  in  any  other  sense  ? — that  was 
far  too  soft  a  word.  And  so  she  stepped  from  her  car- 
riage in  company  with  many  thoughts,  and  came  out 
upon  the  assembled  light  and  colour  as  stately  as  if  she 
had  been  the  only  right  line  in  the  universe.  A  bevy  of 
her  friends  were  round  her  directly. 

'  Hazel,'  said  Phinny  Powder,  '  we  are  going  to  run 
this  concern  into  a  German  as  soon  as  it  has  run  long 
enough  in  its  own  name.  I  am  so  glad  you  are  here  ; 
and  in  blue.  Keep  near  me,  won't  you,  because  it'll  just 
set  me  off,  and  some  dresses  kill  me.' 

'  How  can  she  keep  near  you,  you  giddy  creature  ? ' 
said  Mme.  Lasalle.  '  Hazel '  (whispering),  '  Stuart  bade 
me  engage  you  to  lead  the  German  with  him.  May  I 
tell  him  you  will  ? ' 

'  O  Hazel,'  cried  Josephine  again,  '  we  are  going  to 
have  such  fun.  Kitty  is  going  to  let  us  into  some  new 
figures,  and  they  are  considerably  jolly,  I  tell  you ! ' 

'Are  they  ? '  said  Hazel.  '  But  the  music  comes  first, 
Mme.  Lasalle,  and  I  may  not  stay  for  the  German.  And 
I  have  promised  the  first  walk  to  Mr.  May.' 

'  Not  stay  for  the  German  ! ' — '  Not  stay  for  the  Ger- 
man ?'  was  echoed  in  so  many  various  tones  of  despair 
that  it  had  to  be  answered  again. 

'  I  only  said  I  might  not,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  Good 
evening,  Mr.  May.' — And  Miss  Kennedy  swept  off,  to  the 
opening  burst  of  music  from  the  band.  •  , 


THE    GERMAN   AT   OAK    HILL.  32! 

Now  there  are  other  sounds  besides  music  at  a  prom- 
enade concert,  and  many  things  not  strictly  harmonious 
are  said  and  done  under  cover  of  its  trombones  and  vio- 
lins. Wych  Hazel  indeed  walked  unremittingly, — it  suit- 
ed her  mood  that  night ;  but  many  sat  and  talked,  very 
regardless  of  the  music,  and  not  too  mindful  of  other 
ears.  And  so  after  a  while  a  group  gathered  round  Kit- 
ty Fisher,  to  discuss  the  coming  German  and  pick  up  a 
few  hints  touching  the  promised  new  figures.  Wych  Ha- 
zel had  just  passed,  escorted  on  either  hand  :  her  dark- 
blue  robe  and  white  laces  setting  her  off  to  perfection. 
For  a  minute  eyes  alone  were  busy. 

'  That  girl  provokes  me  to  death  with  her  high  dresses  !' 
said  Kitty  Fisher.  '  Such  ridiculous  nonsense  ! ' 

'  I'm  not  so  sure  as  to  that,'  said  Miss  May.  '  Dick 
raves  about  it.' 

"  Dick  raves  about  her  altogether,'  said  Kitty, — '  so  of 
course  he  has  to  include  her  dress.' 

'Well,  George  said  that  other  shoulders  might  as  well 
retire  if  her's  ever  came  fairly  out,'  said  little  Molly  Sea- 
ton,  who  was  taking  her  first  sips  of  society,  and  looked 
up  to  Miss  Kennedy  as  the  eighth  and«fiinth  wonder  of 
the  world  combined. 

'  I  don't  care,'  said  Kitty  Fisher,  '  I'll  have  'em  out !  I 
vow  I  will.  It's  a  fraud  on  society.' 

'  Society  can  afford  to  be  a  loser  now  and  then,'  said 
Mr.  Kingsland,  softly  insinuating  himself  among  the 
ladies  ; — '  it  gets  so  much  more  than  its  due  between 
whiles  ! ' 

'It's   prudish,'    said  Phinny,  disregarding  this   senti- 
ment,— '  that's  what  it  is.     Do  you  suppose  it's  that  old 
wretch  of  a  guardian  keeps  her  in  leading  strings  ?   Now 
she  talks  of  not  staying  to  the  German.' 
21 


322  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'The  Sorceress  is  in  one  of  her  moods  to-night,'  said 
Mr.  Kingsland.'  Murky.  Flashes  coming  so  thick 
and  fast,  that  I  declare  I've  been  winking  all  the 
evening.' 

'  Stephen,'  said  Miss  Kitty,  '  if  you'll  help  get  up  the 
"  Handkerchief  "  by  and  by,  and  get  her  into  the  thick 
of  it  before  she  knows  where  she's  going,  I'll  give  you 
the  first  pair  of  blue  gloves  I  can  spare.' 

'  Great  offer,'  said  Mr.  Kingsland ;  '  but  to-night  the 
Sorceress  prefers  walking.' 

'  Stuff  ! — who  cares  what  she  prefers  ? ' 

'  Some  nine-tenths — and  a  fraction — of  all  the  men 
here, — myself  included,'  said  Mr.  Kingsland. 

'  You  are  the  fraction,  or  you'd  manage  it,'  retorted 
Kitty.  '  It's  doubtful  if  she  would  dance  with  you.' 

'  She  will  not  dance  with  anybody  this  night,'  said  Mr. 
Kingsland. 

'  How  do  you  know  ? ' 

*  Said  so.  And  what  Miss  Kennedy  has  said,  she 
does.5 

'Why,  she  couldn't  dance  in  that  long  train,'  said  Molly 
Seaton. 

'  Little  goose  ! '  said  Kitty  Fisher,  '  she  would  hang 
that  over  her  partner's  arm.' 

'  Would  she  ! '  said  Mr.  Kingsland,  with  a  slight  whis- 
tle. '  I  asked  her  to  do  it  once  :  I  think  I  shall  not 
again.' 

'  She'd  rather  talk  to  six  men  than  dance  with  one,  I 
suppose,'  said  Miss  Fisher,  eyeing  the  girl  who  stood 
now  leaning  against  a  tree  in  the  distance. 

'  And  the  post  of  the  seventh  looks  so  inviting ! '  said 
Mr.  Kingsland,  rising  and  strolling  off. 

'  Isn't  it  too  much  ! '  said  Kitty  Fisher.     '  See  here 


THE    GERMAN    AT    OAK    HILL.  323 

girls  and  boys,  listen,' — and  heads  and  voices  too  went 
down  below  recognition. 

A  little  later  in  the  evening,  Gotham  from  his 
seclusion  in  the  servants'  quarters  was  summoned  to 
speak  to  a  lady.  He  found  awaiting  him,  not  his  mis- 
tress, but  a  wonderful  pyramid  of  white  tarletan  from 
which  issued  a  voice. 

'  Miss  Hazel  is  going  to  spend  the  night  with  Mrs- 
Seaton,  and  she  sends  you  word  that  you  may  go  home 
and  come  back  for  her  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning.' 

'  Ain't  that  clever  ?'  said  Phinny  to  the  cavalier  on 
whose  arm  she  leaned,  as  they  retraced  their  way  towards 
the  lighted  portion  of  the  grounds.  '  Now  I  have  dis- 
posed of  one  trouble.' 

All  unconscious  of  this  machination  Wych  Hazel  kepi 
on  her  walk — the  only  thing  she  could  decide  to  do  to- 
night. In  fact  the  girl  hardly  knew  her  own  mood.  Of 
course  the  strictures  that  had  been  made  were  all  un- 
founded, as  touching  her  ;  but  the  words  had  given  such 
pain  at  the  time,  that  the  very  idea  of  dancing  made 
her  wince  as  if  she  heard  them  again.  That  would  wear 
off,  of  course,  but  for  the  present  she  would  walk  ;  and 
had,  as  Molly  guessed,  put  on  her  long  train  as  a  token. 
But  when  the  concert  began  to  tend  towards  the  Ger- 
man, another  fancy  seized  her  :  to  stay  and  look  on,  and 
get  that  outside  view  which  was  almost  unknown.  And 
so  when  the  first  set  was  forming  she  released  Major 
Seaton  for  his  partner,  and  again  took  Mr.  May's  arm 
and  walked  towards  the  dancers. 

'  My  dear,'  said  Mine.  Lasalle,  coming  up  on  the 
other  side,  '  are  you  not  dancing  ?  ' 

'  As  you  see,  Madame  ! '  said  Hazel,  with  a  slight  band 
and  laugh. 


324  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  You  not  dancing  !     What's  the  matter  ! ' 

'  Well — you  will  find  it  is  a  freak,  or  I  tirecl  myself 
last  night,  or  I  want  to  make  a  sensation — according  to 
whom  you  ask,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  You  are  not  forbidden  ? '  whispered  the  lady,  in  a 
lower  tone. 

'No,  Madame.' 

'You  seem  to  have  so  many  guardians,'  the  lady  went 
on, — '  and  guardians  are  selfish,  my  dear;  horribly  sel- 
fish. For  that,  I  think  all  men  are,  whether  guardians 
or  not.' 

'  Just  now,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  I  am  the  selfish  one, — 
keeping  Mr.  May  from  dancing.'  Which  supposed  view 
of  the  case  Mr.  May,  like  a  wise  man,  did  not  try  to  an- 
swer— just  then. 

The  German  began.  One  or  two  ordinary  figures 
first,  but  watched  by  Wych  Hazel  with  eager  eyes. 

'  Yes,  of  course  ! '  she  said  to  herself,  as  Kitty  Fisher 
went  round  with  her  head  on  her  partner's  shoulder, 
— '  if  he  thought  I  did  that.'  Could  he  think  it  ? — the 
little  white  glove  tips  so  nearly  withdrew  themselves 
from  the  black  coat-sleeve  they  were  touching,  that  Mr. 
May  turned  to  ask  if  she  was  tired  and  wished  to  sit 
down. 

But  motions  that  were  pretty  to  look  at  followed  :  each 
couple  in  turn  passing  through  an  avenue  of  little  col- 
oured flags,  which,  held  out  by  the  motionless  couples 
on  either  side,  met  and  crossed  over  the  heads  of  the 
dancers.  Down  came  Stuart  Nightingale  and  Miss 
Fisher,  and  Mr.  Burr  and  Phinny  Powder,  and  Major 
Seaton  and  Miss  May, — Wych  Hazel  looked  on,  smiling, 
and  with  a  stir  of  her  little  right  foot.  How  often  she 
had  come  down  just  so  !  Then  began  a  figure  that  sho 


THE   GERMAN    AT   OAK    HILL.  325 

did   not   know:    they  were   going  to   'practise,'   Kitty 
Fisher  called  out,  n  commending  her  to  come. 
'  You  won't  know  how  next  time.' 
'  Thank  you,  I  can  learn  by  looking  on.' 
And  so  she  stood  still  and  watched.     Watched  to  sef 
the  ladies,  armed  with  long  reins   and  a  whip,  driving 
their  partners  cheerfully  from  point  to  point,  with  appro- 
priate gestures  and  sounds  and  frolic.     The  little  bells 
tinkled  gleefully,  the  many-coloured  leading-strings  min- 
gled in  a  kaleidoscope  pattern. 

'  Symbolical,'  Mr.  Kingsland  remarked,  standing  near. 
'  This  is  the  "  Bridle  "  figure,  Miss  Kennedy.' 

'Unbridled'  would  be  a  better  name,  Miss  Kennedy 
thought,  but  she  said  not  a  word;  only  her  lips  curled 
disdainfully.  But,  'driving  men  is  easy  work,'  as  Phin- 
ney  Powder  said,  and  so  this  '  practice  '  soon  gave  way 
to  another  still  more  striking.  The  ladies  ranged  them- 
selves, standing  well  apart  from  each  other,  and  among 
the  gentlemen  was  a  general  flutter  of  white  handker- 
chiefs. What  were  they  going  to  do  ?  '  Bonds '  was  the 
word  that  occurred  to  Hazel  this  lime,  as  she  stood 
leaning  a  little  forward  in  interested  expectation.  And 
so  it  proved, — but  not  just  as  she  had  expected.  To  be 
tied  by  the  hand  would  be  bad  enough,  but  by  the  foot ! 
— and  yet, — yes,  certainly  Major  Seaton's  handkerchief 
was  round  Kitty  Fisher's  pretty  ankle — to  the  discom- 
fiture of  several  other  handkerchiefs  of  like  intentions, 
— and  Miss  Powder  had  Stuart  Nightingale  at  her  feet, 
— and  Phinny — 

But  who  did  it  for  whom,  Wych  Hazel  scarcely 
thought  until  afterwards.  She  looked  on  for  a  minute 
at  the  scuffling,  laughing,  romping  ;  then  clrcv:  b,v:k  \\'.th 
a  deep  flush. 


326  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'Did  they  think  they  cculd  do  that  with  me!'  she 
said,  under  her  breath.  And  what  could  her  companior 
do  but  feel  ashamed  of  every  man  he  had  ever  seen  dc 
'  that '  for  any  woman  ? 

The  course  of  things  was  changed  after  a  time  by 
Mr.  Nightingale's  coming  up  and  asking  her  to  walk. 
He  had  made  over  the  '  practice  '  to  somebody  else, 
professing  that  he  knew  the  figures  already.  Perhaps 
somewhat  in  his  companion's  manner  struck  him,  for 
he  remarked,  quite  philosophically,  as  they  moved 
into  the  shadow  of  the  shrubbery,  that  '  society  is  a 
problem ! ' 

'  Is  it  ? '  said  Hazel,  to  whom  problems  (out  of  books) 
were  as  yet  in  a  happy  distance.  '  What  needs  solution, 
Mr.  Nightingale? ' 

'  Is  it  possible  you  do  not  see  ? ' 

'Not  a  bit.  I  did  not  know  society  was  deep  enough 
to  be  called  a  problem.' 

'"Glissez,  mortels  ;  n'appuyez  pas.'" 

'  Well,  people  do  not,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  And  had  best  not.  Nothing  is  more  graceful  than 
the  state  of  bold  and  brave  innocence.' 

Hazel  mused  a  little  at  that,  half  unconsciously  get- 
ting up  a  problem  of  her  own.  Was  he  talking  of  her 
'  innocence  ? '  did  he,  too,  see  things  which  she  did  not  ? 
And  was  this  another  warning  ?  Yet  no  one  more  for- 
ward to  draw  her  into  round  dances  than  Stuart  Night- 
ingale. He  began  again  in  another  tone. 

'  You  are  determined  not  to  dance  to-night  ? ' 

'  Yes.     Am  I  part  of  the  problem  ? ' 

He  laughed  a  little.  '  You  would  not  be  a  true  woman 
if  you  were  not.' 

'You  may  as  well  give  up  trying  to  understand  mej 


THE    GERMAN    AT    OAK    HILL.  327 

said  Wych  Hazel,  gaily.  '  Mr.  Falkirk  and  I  have  been 
at  it  for  years,  and  the  puzzle  is  a  puzzle  yet.' 

'  Confess,  you  like  to  be  a  puzzle.' 

'  One  may  as  well  make  the  best  of  one's  natural  ad- 
vantages,' said  Hazel  with  a  laugh.  '  I  suppose  if  I 
were  what  people  call  "limpid,"  and  "transparent,"  T 
might  like  that  too.'  But  the  clear  girlish  purity  of  the 
depths  referred  to  was  as  transparent  as  the  Summer  blue. 

'  Have  you  ever  been  told,'  said  Stuart,  lowering  his 
voice  a  little,  '  of  your  very  remarkable  resemblance  to 
one  of  the  greatest  puzzles  of  history  ? ' 

'  No,'  said  Hazel.  '  And  you  do  not  know  me  well 
enough  to  tell  what  I  resemble.' 

'  Pardon  me — pardon  me  !  Do  you  think  I  could  not 
have  told,  after  that  one  first  meeting  in  the  wood  ? ' 

'If  you  could,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  with  a  lift  of  her  eye- 
brows, '  I  cannot  imagine  how  society  can  be  a  problem 
to  you,  Mr.  Nightingale.' 

'  There  never  was  but  one  woman,  of  those  whose  pic- 
tures have  come  down  to  us,  whose  mouth  could  be  at 
once  so  mischievous  and  so  sweet.  You  are  aware  the 
mouth  is  the  index  to  the  character  ? ' 

Hazel  answered  with  some  reserve  (direct  compliments 
always  gave  her  a  check) 

'No — Yes.   I  have  heard  people  say  so.' 

'  And  you  know  the  woman  I  mean  ? ' 

'  She  is  bound  to  be  a  witch  ! — but  further  than 
that—' 

'  The  likeness  is  really  remarkable,'  said  Stuart, 
seriously;  'you  have  the  Mary  Stuart  brow  exactly,  and 
the  mouth,  as  I  said  ;  and  I  think,  as  far  as  difference 
of  colour  admits  similarity  of  effect,  the  eyes  have  the 
same  trick  of  power.  I  suppose  you  like  power  ? ' 


328  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  suppose  I  should  !  Mr.  Falkirk  ties  up  all  my 
power,  and  labels  it  "Edge  tools,"  '  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  I  suppose  it  cuts  its  way  out,  and  so  justifies  him. 
Don't  you  have  your  own  way  generally  ? ' 

'Well,  between  taking  it,  and  coaxing  it  out,  and  re- 
fusing to  take  any  other,  I  do  have  it  sometimes,'  said 
Wych  Hazel. 

'  Is  Mr.  Falkirk  much  of  an  ogre  ?  I  do  not  know 
him.  Difficult  to  manage  ? ' 

'  He  thinks  I  am,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  No,  he  is  not 
an  ogre  at  all,  except  officially.' 

'  Does  he  pretend  to  exercise  much  supervision  over 
your  doings  ? ' 

'  Pretend  ? '  she  repeated.  '  He  has  the  right,  Mr. 
Nightingale.  And  did  ever  a  man  have  a  right  and  not 
give  it  an  airing  now  and  then  ? ' 

Stuart  laughed,  and  laughed  again.  '  Don't  be  hard 
on  us  !  '  he  pleaded. 

'  Truth  is  not  slander.' 

'  But  are  not  women  as  fond  of  power,  and  wont  to 
exercise  it  as  ruthlessly,  as  ever  men  are  ? ' 

'  It  is  not  as  strong  power,  if  they  do.' 

'  Take  care,'  said  Stuart.  '  Honour  bright ! — while 
Mr.  Falkirk  thinks  things  go  according  to  his  will,  don't 
they  really  go  by  yours  ? ' 

'  No,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  when  he  thinks  they  do,  they 
do, — when  they  do  not,  he  knows  it.' 

'  Then  you  are  not  free.  That  is  hard  ! — hard  upon 
you.  A  mother's  authority  is  one  thing  ;  a  guardian's, 
I  should  think,  is  something  very  different.  Does  he 
interfere  with  your  dancing? ' 

'  No.' — Hazel  herself  hardly  knew  why  words  sudden- 
ly became  scarce. 


THE    GERMAN    AT    OAK    HILL.  329 

'  I  thought  you  were  very  fond  of  it.' 

'  O,  I  am  ! ' 

'  Then  why  will  you  not  honour  me  and  please  yourseli 
to-night  ? ' 

'  "  Why  "  is  safe,  while  "  why  "  keeps  hid.  All  women 
know  that,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  You  best  of  all,'  said  Stuart.  'I  dare  say  it  is  just  to 
my.ke  us  miserable.  But  now  I  am  coming  to  you  with 
a  more  serious  request.  Will  you  help  us  in  some  pri- 
vate theatricals  ?  ' 

'  I  ? — O,  I  could  not.  I  know  nothing  about  the  mat- 
ter. Never  went  to  a  theatre  in  my  life,  to  begin  with.' 

'  So  much  the  better.  I  know  you  will  do  it  to  perfec- 
tion. In  the  first  place  you  are  not  vain  ;  and  in  the 
second  place  you  are  independent ;  and  an  actor  should 
be  free  in  both  respects.  And  of  positive  qualifications 
you  are  full.  Say  you  will  try  ! ' 

'  I  am  the  worst  person  to  make  believe  that  ever  you 
saw,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  I  doubt  if  I  could  counterfeit 
anybody  else  for  ten  minutes.' 

'Precisely  !' said  Stuart  in  a  contented  tone.  'You 
would  not  counterfeit.  Good  acting  is  not  counterfeiting 
— it  is  nature.  You  will  help  us  ?  Say  you  will  !  ' 

'  O,  if  I  can — certainly.' 

Before  Wych  Hazel's  lips  had  fairly  got  the  words  out, 
the  two  found  themselves  suddenly  flush  with  Mr.  Rollo, 
standing  by  the  side  of  the  way  under  a  laburnum  tree, 
which  was  hung  with  lights  instead  of  its  natural  gold 
pendants. 

Swiftly  as  only  thoughts  can,  they  rushed  through  the 
girl's  mind  on  the  instant.  Then  he  was  here  !  And 
of  course  he  knew  she  was  not  dancing, — and  of  course 
he  must  think — There  was  another  figure  beginning — , 


33°  WYCH    HAZEL. 

she  might  go  and  join  that.  No  ! — not  with  him  to  look 
on,  making  mental  comments  :  that  would  be  simply 
unendurable.  Then  she  must  tell  him  it  was  not  for 
what  he  had  said.  And  she  could  not  tell  him  that, 
because  it  was  ! — Only  in  a  different  way.  And  how 
was  she  to  talk  to  him  of  '  ways,'  or  of  anything  else,  after 
last  night  ?  The  result  of  all  which  lucubrations  was, 
that  she  bent  her  head  gravely — and  it  may  be  said 
somewhat  lower  than  usual — in  silent  acknowledgment 
of  Mr.  Rollo's  presence.  She  was  desperately  afraid  of 
him  to-night.  But  though  he  stepped  up  and  spoke  to 
her,  it  was  in  the  indifferent  tone  of  ordinary  business. 

'  On  my  way  here  I  got  something  that  I  think  I  ought 
to  give  to  you.  By  and  by,  when  you  are  at  leisure, 
will  you  command  my  presence  ? ' 

'  I  can  take  it  now.' 

'  No,'  said  he  carelessly,  '  I  will  not  interrupt  you.  I 
should  have  to  explain.  I  will  be  on  the  lawn  in  front 
of  the  concert-saloon  when  you  want  me.' 

He  bowed  and  fell  back  from  them. 

'  Have  you  two  guardians  ? '  said  Stuart  slyly. 

'No.' 

'  Just  a  little  more  assurance  than  necessary,  in  his 
communication.' 

'What  do  you  consider  the  proper  amount  ? '  said  Wych 
Hazel,  retreating  to  carelessness  in  her  turn. 

'  I  should  not  dare  offer  any,'  said  Stuart.  '  It  is  with 
nothing  of  the  kind  that  I  venture  to  ask  if  you  will  ride 
with  me  to-morrow.' 

'  Ah,  I  would  if  I  could  ! '  said  the  girl  longingly.  '  I 
would  give  almost  anything  to  be  on  horseback  again. 
But  my  horses  have  not  come,  and  till  then  I  must 
wait.' 


THE   GERMAN    AT   OAKHILL.  331 

'  Let  me  offer  one  of  my  aunt's  horses  ! '  said  Stuart 
eagerly.  But  Hazel  shook  her  head. 

'  I  cannot  take  it — Mr.  Falkirk  will  let  me  mount  none 
but  my  own.' 

'  Is  it  reasonable  to  yield  obedience  so  far,  and  with  so 
little  ground  ? ' 

'  It  is  comfortable,'  said  Hazel  with  a  laugh.  '  O  yes, 
I  suppose  it  is  reasonable,  too.' 

The  walk  went  on  and  the  talk  ;  each  in  its  way  wan- 
dering along  through  moonlight  and  among  flowers,  and 
then  Hazel  bethought  her  that  what  she  had  to  do  must 
be  done  before  she  went  home.  So  mustering  up  her 
courage,  she  seated  herself  on  one  of  the  broad  stone 
steps  at  the  side  door,  and  despatched  her  escort  to  the 
front  for  Mr.  Rollo.  Presently  he  came,  and  sat  down 
beside  her. 

'  At  what  hour  did  you  order  your  carriage  ? '  he  ask- 
ed in  a  low  tone. 

'  Gotham  was  to  wait.' 

'  He  has  gone  home.     I  met  him  as  I  came.' 

'  Gone  home  ?  O  he  is  only  driving  around  to  keep 
his  horse  awake.  It  is  not  a  fiery  turnout,  by  any 
means.' 

'  He  has  gone  home,'  Rollo  repeated  smiling,  '  and  I 
did  not  know  enough  to  order  him  about  again.  But  I 
sent  word  to  Mr.  Falkirk  that  I  would  take  care  of  you/ 

The  girl's  brows  lifted,  then  drew  slightly  together. 

'  Thank  you — ,'  she  said,  with  rather  stately  hesitation, 
— '  but  as  Mr.  Falkirk  will  send  Gotham  straight  back, 
I  had  better  wait.' 

'  After  my  message,  Mr.  Falkirk  will  not  do  that,'  said 
Rollo,  looking  at  his  watch.  '  It  is  half-past  twelve 
o'clock.' 


332  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Hazel  leaned  her  chin  in  her  hand  and  looked  off  into 
the  moonshine.  She  did  not  feel  like  being  '  taken  care 
of,'  a  bit,  to-night. 

'  I  am  afraid  circumstances  are  affecting  Mr.  Falkirk's 
mind,'  she  said  at  last,  with  a  tone  just  a  trifle  provoked  ; 
for  half-past  twelve  was  a  stubborn  fact  to  deal  with. 
'  Well,  Mr.  Rollo — if  I  can  by  no  means  save  you  the 
trouble,  at  what  hour  will  it  please  you  to  take  it  ? ' 

'  As  there  are  evidently  plots  against  you,  suppose 
you  come  to  the  other  side-door,  and  let  us  go  off  with- 
out speaking  to  anybody  ? ' 

And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  in  a  few  minutes  more 
they  were  comfortably  driving  homewards,  without  super- 
vision, the  silent  groom  behind  them  not  counting  one. 

They  were  in  a  light  phaeton,  with  a  new  horse  in  it 
which  could  go  ;  the  old  moon  was  just  rising  over  the 
trees  ;  the  road  free,  the  pace  good.  The  gentleman's 
tone  when  he  spoke  was  rather  indicative  of  enjoyment 

'Who  is  plotting  against  you-? ' 

'  Plotting  ! — ' 

'  And  now  disappointed  ? ' 

'  O,  it  is  just  some  of  Gotham's  stupidity,'  said  Wych 
Hazel,  with  a  voice  not  yet  at  rest :  she  had  been  oddly 
conscious  of  wishing  that  no  one  should  hear  her  whis- 
pered good-night  to  Mrs.  Seaton  and  follow  to  see 
with  whom  she  went  home.  '  He  and  I  are  always  at 
cross  purposes.' 

'  A  lady  in  a  white  dress  brought  him  the  message,  he 
says.  But  to  change  the  subject — What  is  your  favour- 
ite pleasure  ?' 

'  Riding  the  wind.' 

'  Do  you  remember  once — a  great  while  ago — promis- 
ing to  give  me  an  afternoon  some  time  ? ' 


THE   GERMAN    AT    OAK    HILL.  333 

*  Did  I  ?  it  must  have  been  a  great  while,'  said  Wych 
Hazel.  '  O  yes,  I  do  remember.  Well  ? ' 

'Will  you  put  to-morrow  afternoon  at  my  disposal?' 

'  If  the  thing  to  be  done  is  within  walking  distance. 
Mr.  Falkirk  will  not  let  me  ride.' 

'  I  hav?  brought  home,  I  think,  a  nice  little  saddle 
horse,  which  I  should  like  to  have  you  try,'  Rollo  went 
on,  not  heeding  this. 

'  Oh  ! '  she  said,  with  unmistakeable  longing.  '  But 
he  has  made  me  refuse  at  least  five-and-forty  just  such 
horses  this  summer.' 

'He  will  be  amenable  to  reason  to-morrow,'  said  Rol- 
lo comfortably.  '  Shall  I  tell  you  what  I  want  to  do  with 
you  after  I  have  got  you  on  horseback  ? ' 

'  Let  me  run — I  hope,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  I  am  going  to  take  you  where  you  have  never  been 
yet ;  through  Morton  Hollow  and  the  mills,  to  see  my 
old  nurse,  who  lives  a  little  way  beyond  them.' 

'  I  am  not  going  through  Morton  Hollow,'  said  Hazel, 
decidedly. 

'  Why  not  ? ' 

'  You  never  heard  of  seven  women  who  could  "  render 
a  reason,"  did  you?'  said  the  girl,  with  a  laugh  in  her 
voice. 

'  My  old  nurse  is  a  character,'  Rollo  went  on.  '  She 
is  a  Norse  woman.  My  mother,  I  must  tell  you,  was 
also  a  Norse  woman.  My  father's  business  at  one  time 
kept  him  much  in  Denmark  and  at  St.  Petersburg ;  and 
at  Copenhagen  he  met  my  mother,  who  had  been  sent 
there  to  school.  And  when  my  mother  forsook  her 
country,  the  old  nurse,  not  old  then,  left  all  to  go  with 
her.  She  was  my  nurse  in  my  earliest  years,  and  re- 
mained our  most  faithful  friend  while  we  were  a  family 


334  WYCH    HAZEL. 

She  made  afterwards  a  not  very  happy  marriage ;  and 
when  her  husband  died  just  before  I  went  to  Europe, 
she  was  left  alone  and  poor.  I  arranged  a  small  house 
for  her  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Hollow  ;  and  there 
she  lives — a  kind  of  mysterious  oracle  to  the  people 
about.  And  her  greatest  earthly  pleasure,  I  suppose,  is 
to  have  me  come  and  see  her.  Gyda  Boerresen  is  her 
name.' 

'  I  like  to  see  people  enjoy  their  greatest  earthly  hap- 
piness,' said  Hazel  thoughtfully.  '  I  never  did  many 
times.  Or  at  least  not  many  people.' 

'  I  want  you  to  know  Gyda.  I  am  not  superstitious, 
like  some  of  the  ignorant  people  who  visit  her;  but  yet'. 
— he  paused.  '  If  ever  you  were  in  need  of  womanly 
counsel — if  ever  you  wanted  sympathizing  and  wise  help 
— to  find  your  way  out  of  perplexities — I  should  say,  go 
to  Gyda.  If  any  one  could  give  that  sort  of  help,  she 
would.  And  it  is  almost  like  going  to  a  pythoness,'  ad- 
ded Rollo  thoughtfully;  'she  is  so  cut  off  from  the 
world  and  its  people.' 

They  were  almost  at  Mr.  Falkirk's  cottage.  Rollo  was 
silent  a  moment,  then  said,  '  May  I  ask  Mrs.  By  wank 
to  shew  me  hospitality  again  to  night  ?  I  don't  want  to 
go  home.' 

'  Mrs.  Bywank  will  be  only  too  glad,'  said  Wych  Ha- 
zel. '  The  little  tower  room  always  goes  by  your  name, 
Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  She  did  not  put  me  there  the  last  time,'  said  he, 
laughing,  'I  was  lodged  in  state  and  splendour!  Well, 
good  night.  I  wish  you  were  coming  to  breakfast.' 

She  stood  silent  a  minute,  looking  down.  Could  she  ? 
Might  she  ?  Would  it  do  ?  Run  away  from  Mr.  Falkirk 
for  a  private  frolic  on  the  hill  ?  It  was  a  great  temptation ! 


THE   GERMAN    AT    OAK.    HILL.  335 

,\nd  only  doing  the  honours  of  her  own  house,  when 
all  was  said.  Would  it  be  strange  ?  Would  he  think  it 
strange  ?  That  is,  not  Mr.  Falkirk,  but  Mr.  Rollo.  Was 
he  a  man  of  sense,  she  wondered,  who  always  disapproved 
of  everything  ?  And  with  that  a  child's  look  of  search 
and  exploration  sought  his  face.  There  was  a  grave 
sparkle  in  the  eyes  she  met  looking  down  at  her. 

'  I  see  a  question  in  your  face, '  said  he.  '  And  I 
answer, — yes  ! ' 

'  Very  unsafe  to  answer  anything  in  my  face,'  said  the 
girl,  hastily  withdrawing  her  eyes.  'There  were  two 
questions  in  my  mind.  Good  night,  Mr.  Rollo,  and 
thank  you.' 

'  Think  better  of  it ! ' — said  Rollo,  as  he  got  into  the 
carriage  again. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

BREAKFAST     FOR     THREE. 

MRS.  BYWANK,  inspecting  her  breakfast  table  from 
time  to  time,  certainly  had  Mr.  Rollo's  wish  in  her 
heart,  even  though  it  got  no  further.  And  setting  on 
orange  marmalade  for  him,  she  pleased  herself  with  also 
setting  on  honey  for  her  ;  even  though  the  portrait  of  a 
little  child  was  all  the  sign  of  her  young  lady  the  room 
could  boast.  But  long  habit  had  made  it  second  nature 
to  watch  that  face,  no  matter  what  else  she  was  about. 
Mrs.  Bywank  looked  and  smiled  and  sighed,  and  bent 
down  to  see  if  the  honey  was  perfect.  It  was  late  in 
the  morning  now  :  Mr.  Rollo's  slumbers  had  been  allow- 
ed to  extend  themselves  somewhat  indefinitely  in  the 
direction  which  most  men  approve ;  and  still  breakfast 
waited,  down  stairs  ;  and  Mrs.  Bywank  at  the  tower 
window  gazed  down  the  slope  and  over  the  trees  towards 
Wych  Hazel's  present  abiding  place.  Not  expecting 
to  see  her,  but  watching  over  her  in  her  heart.  So 
standing,  she  was  hailed  by  a  cheery  '  good  morning ' 
behind  her. 

'  I  suppose  people  who  turn  day  into  night  have  no 
right  to  expect  the  day  will  keep  its  promises  to  them  ; 
but  you  are  better  than  my  deserts,  Mrs.  Bywank.  I 
see  a  breakfast  table  ! ' 

'  Always  ready  for  you,  Mr.  Rollo  !  And  you  must  be 
very  ready  too,  by  this  time,'  she  said,  sounding  her 


BREAKFAST    FOR   THREE.  337 

whistle  down  the  stairs.     'Was  Miss  Wych  at  Oak  Hill 
last  night,  sir  ? ' 

'  I  had  the  pleasure  of  bringing  her  home.' 

'  O,  did  you,  sir  ? '  said  Mrs.  By  wank,  with  a  qu  ck  look. 
'  She  told  me  she  meant  to  go, — but  her  mind  comes  about 
wonderfully  sudden  sometimes.  Here  is  breakfast,  Mr. 
Rollo.  Will  you  take  your  old  seat? ' 

'  I  think  it  will  always  come  about  in  the  right  place 
at  last,'  said  Rollo,  as  he  complied  with  the  invitation. 
The  old  housekeeper  drew  a  sigh,  looking  up  at  the  little 
picture. 

'My  pretty  one! '  she  said.  Then  applied  herself  to 
filling  Mr.  Rollo's  cup.  '  Yes,  sir,  you're  right,'  she  went 
on  after  a  pause.  '  And  she  never  would  stop  in  a 
wrong  one,  not  a  minute,  but  for  just  a  few  things.' 

'  Mrs  Bywank,'  said  the  young  man, '  those  few  things 
are  all  around  her.' 

'  You'd  think  so  if  you  could  hear  the  serenades  I 
hear,'  said  the  housekeeper,  '  and  see  the  flowers  — 
and  hear  the  compliments.  She  tells  them  to  me  some- 
times, making  fun.  But  the  trouble  is  with  Miss  Wych, 
she  never  will  see  the  world  with  any  eyes  but  her  own, 
— and  who's  to  make  her  ? ' 

A  problem  which   Rollo  considered   in  silence,  and 
probably  swallowed  instead  of  his  coffee. 

'  Does  she  speak  freely  to  you  of  her  impressions,  and 
of  what  she  is  doing  or  going  to  do  ? ' 

'  Free  as  a  child,  Mr.  Rollo !  Always  tells  me  what 
dress  she'll  wear — and  then  afterwards  how  people  liked 
it.  And  what  she  does,  and  what  they  want  her  to  do. 
And  why  her  head  is  not  turned,'  said  Mrs. Bywank,  in 
conclusion,  '  puzzles  my  head,  I'm  sure.  Mere  handling 
so  many  hearts  might  do  it.' 
23 


333  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Mr.  Rollo  pursued  his  breakfast  rather  thoughtfully 
and  nonchalantly  for  a  time. 

'  Mrs.  Bywank,  Mrs.  Coles  is  returned.' 

'  Surely  ! '  said  Mrs.  Bywank, with  a  slight  start.  '  Then 
she'll  make  mischief, — or  it'll  be  the  first  chance  she 
ever  missed.' 

'  And — the  world  around  her  is  not  so  simple  as  your 
young  lady  believes.' 

'  No,  no  ! '  said  Mrs.  Bywank,  earnestly.  '  Well  I  know 
that !  But  just  there  comes  in  another  trouble  I  spoke 
of, — you  can't  make  her  believe  it,  sir, — and  so  I'm  not 
sure  it's  always  wise  to  try.'  She  paused,  in  a  sort  of 
hesitating  way;  glancing  from  her  teaspoon  to  her 
guest. 

'  It's  not  wise  to  try  at  all,'  said  he,  smiling  — a  sort 
of  warm  genial  smile,  which  went  over  the  table  to  his 
old  friend.  '  At  the  same  time,' — and  his  face  grew 
sternly  grave, — '  it  may  be  desirable  to  have  some  other 
wisdom  come  in  to  her  help.  I  wish, — if  you  are  in  any 
doubt  or  perplexity  about  anything  you  hear,  and  it  may 
be  only  a  little  thing  that  may  give  you  the  impression, — 
I  wish  you  would  call  me  in.' 

'  Well  sir, — that  just  touches  my  thought,'  said  Mrs. 
Bywank.  '  Or  my  thought  that.  For  I  couldn't  do  it, 
Mr.  Rollo,  unless,' — and  an  unmistakeable  look  of  anx- 
ious inquiry  came  across  the  table.  '  Unless,  you 
know,  sir,'  she  went  on,  looking  away  again, — '  unless — 
excuse  my  freedom — the  conditions  of  the  will  are  to  be 
carried  out.'  And  the  old  housekeeper  called  for  hot  waf- 
fles, and  otherwise  apologized  for  touching  the  subject, 
by  quitting  it  at  once.  As  soon  as  all  this  bustle  was 
disposed  of,  her  guest  met  her  eye  again  with  a  frank, 
bright  smile. 


BREAKFAST   FOR   THREE.  339 

'  The  conditions  of  the  will  are  to  be  carried  out,  my 
friend.' 

Mrs.  Bywank  brought  her  hands  together  with  a  sense 
of  relief  and  gladness  that  somehow  went  to  her  eyes 
too,  a:id  she  was  silent  a  little. 

'  I  did  hope  it,  sir ! — And  I  would  far  rather  apply  to 
you  than  to  Mr.  Falkirk.  He  frets  me  sometimes,'  added 
the  old  housekeeper  :  '  I  may  say  that  to  you,  sir.  Now, 
she's  been  wild  to  ride  all  summer, — and  a  dozen  wild 
to  have  her ;  and  Mr.  Falkirk  has  never  let  her  go  once. 
And  so  long  as  he  does  let  her  go  and  dance  with  the 
same  people,  I  don't  for  my  part  see  why.' 

'  Perhaps  he  does,'  said  Rollo,  rather  dryly.  '  But  I 
have  made  the  requisite  declarations  in  presence  of  Mr. 
Falkirk  and  Dr.  Maryland,  and  am  legally  qualified  to 
act,  Mrs.  Bywank.  She  does  not  know  anything  of  this  ; 
and  it  is  not  best  she  should — for  the  present.' 

'  No  sir — by  no  means.'  said  Mrs.  Bywank,  earnestly. 
'  For  if  there  is  anything  Miss  Wych  does  hate  it  is  to 
have  a  gentleman  speak  to  her  about  her  doings.  When 
that  happens  she  thinks  she's  supposed  to  have  done 
something  dreadful ;  and  it  hurts  her  more  than  you 
would  guess,  sir.  Little  child  as  she  was  then,  she 
would  cry  her  eyes  out  over  a  word  from  Mr.  Kennedy, 
but  her  mother  might  say  anything.  And  it  has 
always  been  just  so  with  Mr.  Falkirk.  Only  Miss  Wych 
never  cries  for  him.  At  least  nobody  ever  sees  her.' 

Now,  instead  of  Mr.  Rollo's  being  alarmed  at  this,  as 
another  man  might,  it  was  answered  by  a  certain  humourous 
play  of  face ;  a  slight  significance  of  lip  and  air,  quite 
difficult  to  characterize.  It  was  not  arrogant,  nor  arbi- 
trary ;  I  do  not  know  how  to  call  it  masterful  ;  and  yet 
certainly  it  expressed  no  dismay  and  no  apprehension. 


34°  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Perhaps  it  expressed  that  he  intended  to  be  in  a  different 
category  from  other  men.  Perhaps  he  thought  Mrs.  By- 
wank  meant  to  read  him  a  cautionary  lesson. 

'  She  is  in  rather  a  hard  position/  he  said,  gravely.  '  I 
am  glad  she  has  got  a  good  friend  in  you,  Mrs.  Bywank. 
And  I  am  glad  /have,  too.' 

'  Yes,  it  is  hard,'  said  the  old  housekeeper,  with  a 
glance  at  him  ;  '  though  it  is  not  to  be  expected,  sir,  that 
you  should  quite  understand  it.  But  Miss  Wych  is  the 
lovingest  little  creature  that  ever  lived,  I  believe,  and  as 
true  as  the  sky.  Why,  she  could  cheat  Mr.  Falkirk  day 
in  and  day  out  if  she  chose  ! —  but  if  ever  those  young 
men  should  get  her  to  ride,  against  his  orders,  she  would 
go  and  tell  him  of  it,  the  first  minute  after  she  got 
home.' 

Rollo  did  not  ask  whether  they  could  do  this,  or  had 
done  it.  He  went  on  quietly  with  his  breakfast,  only 
glancing  up  at  Mrs.  Bywank  to  let  her  see  that  he  was 
attending  to  her. 

'  So  that's  a  great  safeguard,'  she  began  again,  with  a 
sigh.  '  But  I  wish  Mrs.  Coles  was  back  in  Chicago  ! 
Miss  Fisher  was  bad  enough.  And  what  the  two  will  do 
between  them — ' 

'  What  does  Miss  Fisher  do  ? ' 

'  It  is  plain  to  me,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank,  '  that  she  wants 
to  pull  my  young  lady  down  to  her  way  of  dress  and  be- 
haviour ;  though  Miss  Wych  don't  guess  it  a  bit.  That  she 
can  never  do,  of  course.  But  it  is  just  like  Miss  Fisher 
to  push  where  she  can't  pull.  Do  you  undersand  me, 
sir  ? ' 

'  Quite.' 

'  So  that  makes  me  anxious,  sir.  And  there  are  hands 
enough  to  help.' 


BREAKFAST    FOR    THREE.  341 

Leaning  somewhat  towards  her  young  guest,  breakfast 
rather  forgotten  on  both  sides,  so  they  sat  ;  when  the 
door  opened  softly  and  Wych  Hazel  came  in.  But  if 
the  first  minute  inside  the  door  could  have  been  instantly 
exchanged  for  the  last  one  outside,  it  is  probable  that 
the  young  lady  of  Chickaree  would  have  disturbed  no 
cabinet  council  over  her  that  day.  For  with  the  first 
sight  of  the  very  people  she  expected  to  find,  there  rushed 
over  her  a  horrible  fear  that  Mr.  Rollo  would  think  she 
had  come  to  see  him  ! — and  that  Mrs.  Bywank  would 
think  so — and  (worst  of  all)  that  she  thought  so  herself ! 
But  there  was  no  retreating  now.  So  passing  swiftly  to 
the  old  housekeeper's  chair,  and  laying  both  hands  on 
her  shoulders  to  keep  her  in  it,  Hazel  stooped  down  to 
kiss  her  ;  and  then  straightening  herself  up  like  a  young 
arrow,  she  gave  from  behind  Airs.  Bywank  a  demure 
good-morning  to  Mr.  Rollo. 

That  gentleman  had  not  been  so  much  engrossed  with 
the  conversation  as  to  have  at  all  the  air  of  being  '  sur- 
prised,' or  he  was  too  good  a  man  of  the  world  to  shew  it. 
He  had  sprung  up  instantly  as  Wych  Hazel  came  in,  and 
now  he  came  round  to  where  she  stood  to  shake  hands, 
looking  very  bright,  but  as  if  her  appearance  was  the 
simplest  thing  in  the  world. 

'  You  have  not  had  breakfast  ? '  he  said. 

'  I  have  had  the  opportunity.  But  you  look  altogether 
too  comfortable  here,  you  and  Mrs.  Bywank ! — As  for 
me,  I  have  been  breakfasting  with  two  bears,  and  had 
nearly  forgotten  how  civilization  acts.' 

'  My  dear  !  '  said  Mrs.  Bywank. — '  Not  "  breakfast- 
ing " — when  you  were  coming  here,  Miss  Wych  ? ' 

'  Not  much,  Byo,  to  say  the  truth.  I  gave  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk  his  coffee — hot  and  hot.' 


342  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  He  didn't  give  you  waffles,'  said  Rollo,  making  room 
for  her  plate  and  cup  upon  the  table.  '  Mrs.  By  wank, 
we  must  take  care  of  her.  I  shall  never  grumble  at  send- 
ing answers  to  invitations  after  this.' 

He  was  rendering  little  services  and  making  himself 
variously  useful,  with  the  air  of  a  person  more  at  home 
than  she  was :  drawing  down  a  blind  to  keep  the  sun 
from  her  face,  and  opening  another  window  to  let  in  the 
air  and  the  view. 

'  Take  care  of  me  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel,  with  a  look  at 
the  table  instead  of  at  him,  and  then  beginning  to  touch 
and  mend  things  generally  to  suit  her  fancy.  '  It  is  very 
plain  what  /have  to  do  !  There  is  the  jar  of  marmalade 
quite  pushed  out  of  reach.  And  if  you  do  not  empty  it, 
Mr.  Rollo,  Mrs.  Bywank  will  think  you  have  not  fulfilled 
the  sweet  promise  of  your  earlier  years.' 

'  My  dear ! '  remonstrated  Mrs.  Bywank,  uneasily. 
'  I  have  satisfied  her,'  said  Rollo,  dryly.     '  But  there 
is  a  little  left  for  you.     There  wouldn't  have  been  if  the 
two  bears  liad  known  where  it  was.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  was  fearfully  growly  this  morning,'  said 
Wych  Hazel.  '  And  every  time  he  growled  Gotham 
grumbled.  So  I  had  a  fusillade.  Where  is  your  fruit, 
Byo?' 

'  There  was  none  brought  in  yesterday,  Miss  Wych,  I'm 
sorry  to  say.' 

'  None  at  all  in  the  house  ? ' 

'  There's  a  basket  in  your  room,  my  dear ;  but  of 
course ' — 

'Not  "  of  course  "  at  all,'  said  the  girl,  jumping  up  to 

go  for  it.     '  you  know  that  is  a  sort  of  fruit  I  never  eat.' 

Which  might  have  left  it  doubtful  what  sort  she  did 

eat, — the  basket  contained  so  many,  in  such  splendid 


BREAKFAST    FOR    THREE.  343 

variety.  Hazel  sat  down  in  her  place  and  began  to  pile 
up  the  beauties  in  a  majolica  dish. 

'  Aren't  you  going  to  give  me  some  ? '  said  Rollo,  look 
ing  on. 

The  answer  tarried  while  Hazel's  little  fingers  dived 
down  after  peaches  and  plums  of  extra  size  with  which 
to  crown  her  dish ;  but  so  doing,  they  suddenly  brought 
up  a  white  note,  suspiciously  sealed  with  red  wax.  The 
girl  dropped  it,  as  if  it  had  been  a  wasp  ;  and  hastily 
setting  the  basket  down  on  the  floor,  pushed  the  unfin- 
ished dish  to  a  position  before  Mr.  Rollo. 

<  There  ! '  she  said,  'will  that  do  ? ' 

'  Do  you  mean  that  you  give  me  all  these?' 

'  Every  bit.' 

'  Mrs.  Bywank,  might  I  make  interest  with  you  for  a 
finger-glass  ? ' 

Which  being  supplied,  the  gentleman  proceeded  to  a 
leisurely  ablution  of  his  fingers,  and  then  looked  at  the 
dish  of  fruit  before  him  with  grave  consideration. 

'  Which  is  the  best? '  said  he. 

'  They  all  look  about  alike,  to  me,'  said  Wych  Hazel, 
raising  her  eyebrows,  '  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear,  when 
you  have  found  out.' 

Exercising  a  great  deal  of  deliberation,  Rollo  finally 
chose  out  a  bunch  of  Frontignac  grapes  and  two  Moor- 
park  apricots,  and  set  them  before  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Will  you  accept  these  from  me  ? '  he  said,  coolly. 
'They  are  my  own  property,  and  are  offered  to  you. 
Taste  and  see  if  they  are  as  good  as  they  ought  to  be.' 

She  looked  up,  and  down,  laughing. 

'  That  is  the  way  you  come  round  people!  Will  you 
take  the  responsibility  ?  Suppose  I  am  asked,  some 
day,  whether  they — were — what  they  ought  to  be  ?  ' 


344  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  You  can  puzzle  him  just  as  well  after  knowing  the 
fact,  as  before,'  Rollo  said,  with  perfect  gravity. 

'  Well,'  said  Hazel,  pulling  a  grape  from  the  bunch. 
'  Perhaps  my  misleading  powers  may  be  equal  to  that. 
This  one  is  quite  good — and  not  at  all  sour,'  she  added, 
with  a  flash  of  her  eyes — which,  however,  went  to  Mrs. 
Bywank.  '  What  do  you  want,  Dingee  ? ' 

Dingee  advanced  and  laid  a  card  on  the  table. 

'  Say  I  am  at  breakfast.  I  cannot  be  expected  to 
keep  awake  all  night  and  all  day  too.' 

'  Permit  me  to  inquire,'  said  Rollo,  as  he  also  attacked 
the  grapes,  but  not  looking  at  them,  '  whether  you  did 
your  share  of  growling  this  morning  ?  I  am  sure  no 
one  had  more  cause.' 

'  No,'  said  the  girl,  laughing.  '  I  feel  that  I  have  a 
great  reserve  in  store  for  somebody.  Well,  Dingee  ? ' 

A  card  with  a  written  message  this  time.  Hazel 
looked  at  it,  drew  her  brows  together,  and,  seizing  a 
pencil,  wrote  a  vigorous  '  No,'  across  the  lines. 

'  For  somebody,'  Rollo  repeated.  '  I  am  not  sure  that 
we  got  hold  of  the  right  delinquent.  After  all,  peaches 
are  the  best  thing  after  waffles  and  coffee.  Try  that.' 
And  he  placed  a  fine  one  alongside  of  Wych  Hazel's  plate. 

'  The  thing  is,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  '  that  unless  you 
can  growl  with  authority,  nobody  marks  you.' 

'  General  Merrick  and  Major  Seaton,  Missee  Hazel, 
ma'am,'  said  her  dark  retainer,  coming  back. 

'  I  thought  I  told  you  I  was  at  breakfast  ? '  said 
Hazel,  in  a  tone  of  displeasure. 

'  Yes'm — but  de  Major  he  bound  to  know  'bout 
sumfin  Missee  Hazel  left  onsartin  last  night.  'Spect 
he'd  like  a  keep-sake,  too,'  said  Dingee,  laying  down 
another  card  '  Mas'  May  put  his  away  mighty  safe.' 


BREAKFAST    FOR    THREE.  345 

If  ever  his  little  mistress  was  near  being  furious,  I 
think  it  was  then.  Eyes  and  cheeks  were  in  a  flame. 

'  I  left  nothing  uncertain  last  night ! '  she  said,  turn- 
ing upon  him.  '  Major  Seaton  knows  that,  if  he  will 
take  the  trouble  to  remember.  And  Dingee,  if  yov 
bring  me  another  message — of  any  sort — before  1 
whistle  for  you,  I  will  put  you  out  of  service  for  a 
month.  Now  go  ! ' 

'  Is  that  the  way  you  punish  unlucky  servitors  ? '  said 
Rollo,  looking  much  amused. 

She  had  come  back  to  her  grapes,  giving  them  the 
closest  attention,  feeling  shy  and  nervous  and  disturbed 
to  any  point ;  but  now  fun  got  the  upper  hand.  So  first 
she  bit  her  lips,  and  then  —  the  laugh  must  come  ! 
Clear  and  ringing  and  mirthsome,  as  if  there  was  never 
a  growl  in  all  the  world. 

'  That  is  one  way,'  she  said. 

'  Sounds  peaceable,'  said  Rollo  demurely,  though 
smiling ;  '  but  I  don't  know !  I  am  afraid  it  might 
prove  very  severe.  What  is  the  appeal  from  one  of 
your  sentences  ? ' 

'  There  is  none.  I  am  a  Mede  and  a  Persian  com- 
bined. Byo,  why  don't  you  give  Mr.  Rollo  some  cream 
with  his  peaches,  and  postpone  me  till  another  time.' 

'  She'll  have  to  postpone  me,  too,'  said  Rollo.  '  I 
must  go.  Shall  I  come  for  you  at  four  o'clock  ?  It 
will  be  too  hot,  I  am  afraid,  before ;  and  we  have  a 
good  way  to  go.' 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

JEANNIE   DEANS. 

IT  wanted  some  time  of  four  o'clock  yet,  when  Miss 
Kennedy  came  quietly  into  Mr.  Falkirk's  study  and 
sat  down  by  the  window. 

'Are  you  at  leisure,  sir?'  she  said,  intertwining  her 
fingers  in  a  careless  sort  of  way  among  the  vines  that 
hung  there. 

'  My  dear,  I  have  been  at  leisure  so  long  that  I  wish 
I  could  say  I  was  busy.  But  I  am  not  busy.  What  is 
it,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Only  a  few  business  questions,  sir,'  she  said,  attend- 
ing to  the  vines.  '  Will  you  let  me  ride  with  Major 
Seaton  on  Thursday  ? ' 

'  Would  you  like  to  go  with  him  ? ' 

'  I  always  like  to  ride,  sir.' 

'  You  have  not  a  horse  yet,  my  dear  ;  that  is  a  diffi- 
culty. I  do  not  know  this  Major  Seaton's  horses — nor 
himself.' 

'  Quite  reliable,  sir — according  to  him.  Will  you  let 
me  ride  with  Mr.  Rollo  this  afternoon  ? ' 

'  I  suppose  there  is  no  good  reason  to  be  assigned 
against  that,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  rather  growlingly,  and 
after  a  pause.  It  sounded  a  little  as  if  he  would  have 
liked  it  if  the  fact  had  been  otherwise. 

'  You  consider  Wednesday  a  more  safe  day  than 
Thursday,  sir  ? ' 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  347 

*  I  am  not  superstitious,  Miss  Hazel.  The  only  thing 
I  ever  was  in  fear  of  is  enchantment ! ' 

'Well  sir, — you  have  doubtless  studied  the  case 
enough  to  know  which  is  the  more  "  enchanting  "  of  the 
two,'  said  Miss  Hazel,  daringly.  '  Shall  I  give  Mr.  May 
a  ride  on  Friday  ?  ' 

'  Will  you  have  a  horse  on  Friday  ? ' 

'  My  horse  seems  to  be  a  slow  one,  by  the  time  it  takes 
him  to  come,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Will  he  be  here  this 
afternoon,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

I  suppose  Rollo  will  see  to  that,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  be- 
ginning to  turn  about  some  papers  that  were  on  the  table. 

'  Yes,  sir,'  said  his  ward,  with  her  small  fingers  still 
playing  among  the  vines  ; '  I  suppose  he  will.  It  is  rather 
Mr.  Rollo's  style.  But  that  makes  it  slightly  awkward  for 
me,  Mr.  Falkirk.' 

'  In  what  respect,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'Most  of  these  other  gentlemen  think  themselves 
qualified  to  "  see  to  "  so  small  a  consignment  as  myself; 
and  not  being  posted  as  to  your  scale  of  enchantment 
and  danger,  may  feel  it  the  reverse  of  a  compliment  to 
meet  me  riding  with  Mr.  Rollo,  on  his  horse.' 

'  Well,  my  dear,  what  do  you  wish  me  to  do  in  the 
matter?  You  are  not  obliged  to  go  with  Rollo,  that  I 
know  of.  Do  you  wish  to  compliment  these  other  small 
fry?' 

'  I  want  to  ride,  Mr.  Falkirk  !  I  believe  I  should  go 
with  Mr.  Simms — if  he  were  the  only  chance ;  and  that 
is  saying  a  good  deal.  However,  I  can  throw  all  the 
responsibility  on  you,  sir  ;  that  is  one  comfort.' 

'  It  won't  break  me,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  ;  '  that  is  another. 
Why  do  they  all  come  for  you  so,  this  hot  weather  ! ' 

But  she  laughed  at  that,  and  went  off  out  of  the  room. 


348  WYCH    HAZEL. 

When  she  came  down  to  the  side  entrance  of  Chicka- 
ree some  hour  or  two  later,  she  found  her  side-saddle  go- 
ing on  an  Arab-looking  brown  mare,  and  Rollo  playing 
hostler.  His  own  horse  standing  by  was  clearly  also  a 
new  comer  ;  a  light  bay,  nervous  and  fidgety,  for  he  did 
not  keep  still  one  minute ;  ears,  hoofs,  eyes  and  head 
were  constantly  and  restlessly  shifting.  The  brown 
mare  stood  still,  only  lifting  her  pretty  head  and  looking 
as  Wych  Hazel  came  out.  She  ran  down  the  steps. 

'  I  got  leave  ! '  she  said,  gleefully, — '  did  you  ? ' — then 
stopped,  surveying  operations.  '  But  was  there  nobody 
about  the  place  to  do  that  but  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

The  quiet  negative  which  answered  this  covered  more 
ground  than  the  question.  Rollo  finished  his  work 
carefully,  with  one  or  two  looking  on  ;  mounted  the  little 
lady,  and  went  to  his  own  horse.  Before  mounting,  here, 
he  seemed  to  hold  some  conversation  with  the  creature  ; 
caressed  him ;  stood  in  front  and  spoke  to  him,  patting 
and  stroking  his  head ;  then  in  another  moment  was  on 
his  back. 

There  is  a  great  difference  in  people's  riding,  as  there 
is  in  people's  walking;  and  once  in  a  while,  among 
plenty  of  good  average  walkers  and  riders,  there  is  one 
whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  see.  This  man  was  such  a  one. 
He  was  a  perfectly  well-made  man,  and  had  the  ease  and 
grace  in  all  his  movements  which  such  a  build  goes  far 
to  ensure  ;  when  on  horseback  it  seemed  as  if  he  had 
communicated  these  qualities  to  his  horse,  and  the  two 
moved  as  one  embodiment  of  ease  and  grace,  with  power 
superadded.  Stuart  Nightingale  on  horseback  was  a  fine 
gentleman,  perfectly  got  up,  and  riding  well,  but  yet  a 
fine  gentleman  in  the  saddle.  Major  Seaton  rode  rug- 
gedly, if  I  may  say  so.  Mr.  May  was  more  at  home  in  his 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  349 

phaeton  ;  others  were  more  or  less  stiff  and  uncertain. 
But  the  attitude  and  action  of  Rollo  were  utter  uncon- 
scious ease,  whatever  form  of  action  his  horse  might  take. 
So  it  was  now.  For  a  few  minutes  his  restless  an- 
imal moved  in  all  sorts  of  eccentric  ways ;  but  where 
most  men  would  have  been  a  little  awkward  and  many 
very  miserable,  his  rider  was  simply  unconcerned  and 
seemed  to  be  taking  his  pleasure.  To  see  such  a  rider 
is  to  be  filled  with  a  great  sense  of  harmony. 

What  a  ride  they  had  then,  when  the  hill  was  descend- 
ed and  the  gates  of  Chickaree  left  behind.  The  road 
for  some  miles  was  known  to  Wych  Hazel  ;  then  they 
branched  off  into  another  where  all  was  new.  The  quali- 
ties of  the  brown  mare  had  been  coming  to  her  rider's 
knowledge  by  degrees ;  a  beautiful  mouth,  excellent 
paces,  thorough  training ;  knowing  her  business  and 
doing  it.  As  they  entered  upon  a  long  smooth  stretch 
of  road  without  anybody  in  sight,  Rollo  proposed  a  run  ; 
and  they  had  it  ;  and  it  was  upon  drawing  bridle  after  this 
that  he  asked  a  question. 

'  How  do  you  like  her  ? ' 

Now  Miss  Kennedy,  in  defiance  of  all  well-known  laws, 
had  never  been  so  smitten  with  the  regulation  beaver 
upon  a  man's  head,  as  to  place  it  on  her  own.  So  instead 
of  its  stiff  proportions  she  wore  a  little  round  straw  hat  ; 
utterly  comfortable,  utterly  graceful,  and  drooping  down 
over  her  eyes  a  la  Marie  Stuart,  so  as  to  keep  those  way- 
ward things  in  deep  seclusion  when  she  chose.  Just 
now,  however,  she  turned  them  full  on  her  companion, 
answering : 

*O  very  much  ! — I  suspect  she  has  only  one  fault.' 

'  What  in  the  world  is  that  ?  Have  you  discovered  al- 
ready what  I  have  sought  for  in  vain  ?' 


350  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  It  is  the  reverse  of  my  specialty,'  said  Wych  Hazel 
— '  so  perhaps  that  makes  me  sharpsightecl.  I  am  afraid 
she  always  behaves  well.' 

'  She  knows  her  business,'  said  Rollo.  '  I  think  what 
you  want  her  to  do,  she  will  do.  Pardon  me  ;  do  you  wish 
her — it  is  rather  paradoxical — to  thwart  your  wishes  ? ' 

'  No, '  said  the  girl,  laughing  a  little, — '  I  put  it  some 
what  differently  :  perhaps  I  might  like,  just  occasionally, 
to  thwart  hers  ! ' 

'  She'll  be  an  extraordinary  animal  if  she  does  not 
some  time  or  other  give  you  a  chance.  Now  do  you 
know  what  you  are  coming  to  ? ' 

The  scenery  was  changing,  had  changed.  The  level, 
open  road  they  had  been  clearing  on  the  gallop,  had 
gradually  drawn  within  high  banks,  which  as  they  went 
on  grew  higher  and  broken,  till  the  country  assumed  the 
character  of  a  glen  or  deep  valley.  Opening  a  little  here 
and  there,  this  valley  shewed  ahead  of  them  now  a  suc- 
cession of  high,  long,  dingy  buildings  ;  and  a  large,  rapid 
stream  of  water  was  seen  to  run  under  the  opposite  bank. 
It  had  not  been  visible  until  now  ;  so  it  probably  turned 
off  near  this  point  into  an  easier  channel  than  the  course 
of  their  road  would  have  afforded.  The  scene  was  ex- 
tremely picturesque  ;  sunshine  and  shadow  mingling  on 
the  sides  of  the  dell  and  on  the  roofs  and  gables  of  the 
buildings  in  the  bottom.  These  were  both  large  and 
small  ;  it  was  quite  a  settlement ;  cottages,  small  and 
mean  and  dingy,  standing  all  along  on  the  higher  banks, 
as  well  as  lower  clown  near  the  stream.  Gradually  the 
dell  spread  into  a  smooth,  narrow  valley. 

'  The  mills,  I  suppose  ?  I  have  not  been  this  way  be- 
fore. It  makes  me  half  wild  to  get  out  again  !  So  if  I  do 
any  wild  things How  lovely  the  dell  is  ! ' 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  351 

'  This  is  Morton  Hollow,'  said  Rollo,  looking  at  her 
'  Can  I  help  you  do  any  wild  things  ? ' 

'  The  houses  are  like  him,'  said  Hazel,  turning  away, 
and  her  colour  deepening  under  the  look.  '  Such  a 
place  ! ' 

She  might  say  '  such  a  place.'  As  they  went  on  the 
character  of  it  became  visible  more  and  more.  There 
were  dark,  high,  close  factories,  whence  the  hum  of  ma- 
chinery issued  ;  poor,  mean  dwellings,  small  and  large, 
clustered  here  and  there  in  the  intermediate  spaces,  from 
which  if  any  sounds  came,  they  were  less  pleasant  than 
the  buzz  of  machines.  Scarce  any  humanity  was  abroad  ; 
what  there  was  deepened  the  impression  of  the  dreari- 
ness of  the  place. 

'Mr.  Rollo,'  said  Hazel,  at  last.  'I  hope  your  friend 
does  not  live  down  here  ? ' 

'  I  don't  think  I  have  any  friend  here, '  he  answered, 
rather  thoughtfully.  He  had  been  riding  slowly  for  the 
last  few  minutes,  looking  intently  at  what  he  was  pass- 
ing. Now,  at  a  sudden  turn  of  the  road,  where  the  valley 
made  a  sharp  angle,  they  came  upon  an  open  carriage 
standing  still.  Two  ladies  were  in  it.  Rollo  lifted  his  hat, 
but  the  lady  nearest  them  leaned  out  and  cried  '  Stop, 
stop ! ' 

A  gentleman  must  obey  such  a  behest.  Rollo  wheeled 
and  stood  still. 

*  Where  are  you  going  ? '  said  the  lady.  Probably  Rol- 
lo did  not  hear,  for  he  looked  at  her  calmly  without  an- 
swering. 

'  Is  that  the  little  lady  ? '  said  the  speaker,  stretch- 
ing her  head  out  a  little  further  to  catch  better  sight  of 
Wych  Hazel.  '  Aren't  you  going  to  introduce  me,  Dane  ? 
I  must  know  her,  you  know.' 


352  WYCH    HAZEL. 

It  is  quite  impossible  to  describe  on  paper  the  flourish 
with  which  Rollo's  horse  responded.  Like  a  voluntan 
before  the  piece  begins,  like  the  elegant  and  marvellous 
sweep  of  lines  with  which  a  scribe  surrounds  his  signa- 
ture, the  bay  curvetted  and  wheeled  and  danced  before 
the  proposed  introduction.  Very  elegant  in  its  way,  and 
to  any  one  not  in  the  secret  impossible  to  divine  whether 
it  was  the  beast  or  his  rider  at  play.  Finally  brought 
up  on  the  other  side  of  Wych  Hazel,  when  Rollo  spoke. 

'  Miss  Kennedy,  I  have  the  honour  to  present  Mrs. 
Coles,  who  wishes  to  be  known  to  you.' 

As  Miss  Kennedy  bent  her  head,  she  had  one  glimpse 
of  a  long  pale  face,  surrounded  with  bandeaux  of  fair 
hair,  which  looked  towards  her  eagerly.  Before  she 
had  well  lifted  her  head  again  her  horse  was  moving, 
and  the  next  instant  dashing  along  at  full  speed ;  the 
bay  close  alongside.  The  mills  were  almost  passed ; 
a  very  few  minutes  brought  them  quite  away  from  the 
settlement,  and  they  began  to  mount  to  higher  ground 
by  a  steep  hilly  path. 

'  Well ! ' — said  Hazel,  looking  at  her  companion. 

*  Well  ? '  said  Rollo,  innocently. 

She  laughed. 

'  As  if  I  did  not  know  better  than  that ! ' 

'  I  wish  I  did,'  said  Rollo.  '  Now,  do  you  know  what 
you  are  coming  to  ? ' 

'No,  not  a  bit.  I  said  I  wouldn't  come  through  that 
place — but  when  you  are  in  a  strange  land— and  in 
charge  of  a — strange  ! — cavalier — ' 

'  You  are  coining  to  the  house  of  my  old  nurse  in  the 
hills  a  quarter  of  a  mile  further  on.  I  did  not  under- 
stand you  to  mean  that  you  would  not  go  through  that 
place.' 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  353 

'  Does  the  man  keep  another  Hollow  for  himself  ? ' 
said  Wych  Hazel.  '  I  am  glad  we  are  going  to  the  hills, 
if  only  to  help  me  forget  the  valley.  How  can  people 
live  so  !  And  oh  !  how  can  people  let  them  ! ' 

'  This  is  a  concomitant  of  great  civilization.  I  saw  no 
such  place  when  I  was  in  Norway,'  Dane  observed. 

'  And  was — what  is  her  name  ? — living  there  when 
you  came  home  ? ' 

'  Gyda  ?  Down  in  the  Hollow  !  O  no.  I  had  estab- 
lished her  up  here  in  comfort  before  I  left  her.' 

More  and  more  lovely,  wild  and  lonely,  the  scenery 
grew  ;  the  road  getting  deeper  among  the  hills  and  wind- 
ing higher  and  higher  with  the  head  of  the  valley. 
Then  they  came  to  the  cottage,  the  only  one  in  sight ;  a 
low  house  of  grey  stone,  set  with  its  back  against  the 
woods  which  covered  the  hill.  A  little  cleared  and 
cultivated  ground  close  to  it,  and  in  front  the  road. 
Rollo  dismounted,  fastened  his  horse,  and  took  Wych 
Hazel  down. 

'  Do  you  like  to  come  to  such  places  ? '  he  asked  as 
he  was  tying  the  brown  mare  to  the  fence. 

'  I  know  very  little  about  them,'  she  said.  'T/n's  looks 
like  a  place  to  come  to.' 

'  It  is  unique,'  said  Rollo,  as  he  led  the  way  in. 

He  opened  the  door  softly.  An  utterance  of  joy 
Wych  Hazel  heard,  before  she  could  see  the  person 
from  whom  it  came.  Rollo  turned  and  presented  Miss 
Kennedy  then.  It  was  that.  He  did  not  present  old 
Gyda  to  her.  And  then  Wych  Hazel  was  established  in 
the  best  chair,  and  could  look  at  her  leisure,  for  at  first 
she  was  not  the  one  attended  to. 

She  saw  a  little  person,  with  a  brown  face,  much 
shrivelled ;  which  yet  possessed  two  sparkling  keen  black 
23 


354  WYCH    HAZEL. 

eyes.  There  was  not  a  pretty  feature  in  the  old  woman's 
face,  for  the  eyes  were  not  beautiful  now,  in  any  sensu- 
ous meaning  of  beauty.  And  yet,  as  Wych  Hazel  look- 
ed, presently  the  word  '  lovely  '  was  the  word  that  came 
up  to  her.  That  was  of  course  due  only  to  the  pervading 
expression  ;  which  was  pure,  loving  and  refined  far  be 
yond  what  the  young  lady  had  often  seen.  She  was 
dressed  in  a  short  jacket  of  dark  cloth,  braided  with 
bright  braid,  and  fastened  at  the  throat  with  a  large  sil- 
ver brooch.  Her  petticoat  was  of  the  same  cloth,  drawn 
up  plain  over  the  bosom  in  an  ungraceful  manner  ;  her 
head  was  covered  with  a  coloured  handkerchief,  tied  so 
that  the  ends  hung  down  the  back. 

After  seeing  Wych  Hazel  seated,  she  for  the  moment 
paid  her  no  further  attention.  Rollo  had  sat  down  too  ; 
and  the  old  woman  came  close  in  front  of  him  and  stood 
looking  silently,  her  head  reaching  then  only  a  little 
above  his  shoulders.  She  was  old,  undeniably  ;  how- 
ever, it  was  an  entirely  vigorous  and  hearty  age.  Her 
hand  presently  came  to  Rollo's  face,  pushing  back  the 
thick  and  somewhat  curly  locks  from  his  temples,  and 
then  taking  his  head  in  both  hands  she  kissed  first  one 
cheek  and  then  the  other. 

'  Don't  be  partial,  Gyda ! '  said  he,  smiling  at  her. 
And  if  there  was  beauty  of  only  one  kind  in  the  little 
black  eyes  that  looked  at  him,  there  was  much  of  both 
kinds  in  the  young  man's  face.  Gyda  left  him  and  went 
over  to  her  other  visitor. 

And  as  far  as  minuteness  of  examination  went,  cer- 
tainly she  was  not  'partial.'  It  would  have  been  a  bit 
trying  from  anybody  else — the  still,  intent,  searching 
look  of  the  old  woman  upon  the  young  face.  But  the 
look  was  one  of  such  utter  sweetness,  so  thoroughly  lov- 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  355 

ing  and  simple  and  kind,  if  it  was  also  keen,  that  there 
was  after  all  in  it  more  to  soothe  nerves  than  to  excite 
them.  Her  hand  presently  came  to  Wych  Hazel's  face 
too,  drawing  down  over  the  soft  cheek  and  handling  the 
wavy  ringlets,  and  tracing  the  delicate  chin's  outline. 
Slowly  and  considerately. 

'  Is  she  good  ? '  was  the  first  word  that  Gyda  spoke  in 
this  connection,  as  naively  as  possible.  It  was  rather 
directed  to  Rollo.  The  girl's  colour  had  stirred  and 
mounted  under  the  scrutiny,  until  interest  nearly  put 
shyness  out  of  sight ;  and  the  winsome  brown  eyes  now 
looked  at  Gyda  more  wistful  than  afraid.  They  follow- 
ed her  question  with  a  swift  glance,  but  then  Miss  Ken- 
nedy hastily  took  the  matter  into  her  own  hands. 

'Not  generally !' she  answered,  the  lips  parting  and 
curling  in  sweet  mirthful  lines  that  at  least  did  not  speak 
of  very  deep  wrong-doing.  Most  gentlemen  probably 
would  have  uttered  a  protest,  but  Rollo  was  absolutely 
silent.  Gyda  looked  from  one  to  the  other. 

'  Why  are  ye  no  good  ? '  she  asked,  with  her  hand  on 
Wych  Hazel's  shoulder.  The  expression  of  the  words 
is  very  difficult  to  describe.  It  was  an  inquiry,  put  with 
the  simplest  accent  of  wondering  and  regretful  desire. 
Hazel  looked  at  her,  studying  the  question  rather  in  the 
face  than  in  the  words. 

'  I  suppose,'  she  said  slowly,  '  because  I  do  not  like 
it.' 

'  You  must  know,  Gyda,'  said  Rollo,  smiling,  '  that 
Miss  Hazel's  notion  of  goodness  is,  giving  up  her  own 
will  to  somebody  else's.' 

'  And  that's  just  what  it  is,  Dane  Olaf,'  said  the  old 
woman,  looking  round  at  him.  '  Ye  could  not  have  ex- 
pressed it  better.  But  that  is  not  hard,  nor  uncomfort- 


356  WYCH    HAZEL. 

able,  when  ye  love  somebody  ?' she  added,  her  sweet 
eyes  going  back  to  Wych  Hazel.  The  girl  shook  her 
head. 

'  I  never  loved  anybody,  then.  Unless  mamma,'  she 
answered. 

'  Lady,  do  ye  know  those  words  in  your  Bible — "  He 
that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High  shall 
abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty  ?  "  Giving  up 
yourself  to  God  will  put  ye  just  there  !  And  then — "  H< 
shall  cover  thee  with  his  feathers,  and  under  His  wings 
shalt  thou  trust."  ' 

It  is  one  thing  to  hear  these  words  sonorously  read  in 
church,  or  to  run  one's  eye  over  them  in  a  perfunctory 
manner.  To  see  Gyda  speak  them,  with  the  accent  and 
air  of  one  undeniably  proving  the  truth  of  them,  that 
was  another  thing. 

'There  may  be  yet  a  difficulty,  Gyda,'  said  Rollo. 

'Whatis't?' 

'  One  may  not  know  just  how  to  get  there,  even  after 
you  have  shewed  the  way.' 

Rollo  was  not  speaking  lightly  ;  but  Gyda  as  she  went 
back  to  her  seat  only  answered, 

'  Ye  can  always  ask.' 

'  Whom  would  you  bid  me  ask,  Gyda  ?  I  would 
about  as  lieve  come  to  you  as  anybody,  if  I  wanted 
counsel.' 

'  Give  yourself  to  God,  lad,  and  ye'll  know  there's  but 
One  to  ask  of.  And  there's  but  One  before  that,  if  ye 
want  real  help.' 

There  was  a  minute's  pause  ;  and  then  Rollo  asked 
what  Gyda  had  for  him  to  do.  *  Not  yet,'  she  answered  ; 
and  with  that  left  the  room.  Rollo  brought  his  chair 
to  Wych  Hazel's  side. 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  357 

'  She  is  going  to  get  you  some  supper,'  he  said,  with 
a  smile. 

'  No,  it  will  be  all  for  you, — and  you  will  give  me 
part  of  it.  I  should  think  you  would  come  here  very 
often,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  Do  you  ? '  said  he,  looking  pleased.  '  That  shews  I 
did  right  to  bring  you  here.  Now  you'll  have  a  Norse 
supper — the  first  you  ever  had.  Gyda  is  Norse  herself, 
I  told  you  ;  she  is  a  Tellemarken  woman.  If  we  were 
in  Norway  now,  there  would  be  in  the  further  end  of 
this  room  two  huge  cribs,  which  would  be  the  sleeping 
place  for  the  whole  family.  Overhead  would  be  fishing 
nets  hanging  from  the  rafters,  and  a  rack  with  a  dozen 
or  more  rifles  and  fowling-pieces.  On  the  walls  you 
would  see  collars  for  reindeer,  powder-horns  and  dag- 
gers. Gyda's  spinning-wheel  is  here,  you  see  ;  and  her 
stove,  besides  the  fireplace  for  cooking.  Her  dairy  is  a 
separate  building,  after  Norway  fashion,  and  so  is  her 
summer  kitchen,  where  I  know  she  is  this  minute,  mak- 
ing porridge.  Can  you  eat  porridge  ? ' 

'  Truly  I  cannot  say,  Mr.  Rollo.  But  I  do  not  often 
"  thwart "  myself—  as  you  may  have  observed.  Does  the 
absence  of  Norse  blood  make  the  fact  doubtful  ? ' 

'  Norse  habit,  say  rather,'  said  Rollo,  shaking  his  head  ; 
'  Norse  habit,  induced  by  Norse  necessity.  In  many  a 
Norwegian  homestead  you  would  get  little  besides  por- 
ridge, often.  But  Gyda  likes  it,  and  so  do  I.  At  any 
rate,  it  is  invariable  for  a  Norse  meal,  in  this  house.  It 
is  one  of  the  things  which  can  be  transplanted.  Gyda 
would  have  enjoyed  a  row  of  reindeer's  horns  bristling 
along  the  eaves  of  her  cottage ;  but  I  told  her  the  boys 
of  the  Hollow  would  not  leave  them  long  if  I  set  them 
there.' 


35&  WYCH   HAZEL. 

.  '  But  you  are  half  Danish,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  And 
was  it  for  love  of  Denmark  that  you  got  your  name  ? ' 

'  Which  name  ?     If  you  please  ? ' 

'  You  know,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  with  a  shy  blush,  as 
if  it  were  a  sort  of  freedom  for  her  to  know  and  speak  it, 
'  they  call  you,  "  Dane  Rollo."  ' 

'  That's  not  my  name,  though,'  said  he,  smiling.  '  I 
am  no  further  a  Dane  than  being  born  in  Copenhagen 
makes  me  so.  I  am  half  Norse,  and  a  quarter  German  ; 
Denmark  has  given  me  a  nickname, — that's  all.' 

'  Then,  if  we  were  in  Norway  and  this  a  considerable 
farmhouse,  we  should  have  passed  through  an  ante-room 
filled  with  all  sorts  of  things.  Meal  chests,  and  tools, 
and  thongs  of  leather,  skins  of  animals  and  wild  birds, 
snow  shoes  and  casks  and  little  sledges.  Do  you  know.' 
he  went  on,  '  if  this  were  not  the  land  of  my  father,  I 
could  find  it  in  my  heart  to  go  and  live  in  the  land  of 
my  mother.  It  is  a  noble  land,  and  it  is  a  fine  people. 
Feudal  law  never  obtained  footing  there ;  every  land- 
holder held  under  no  superior;  and  .so  there  is  a  manly, 
genial  independence  in  all  the  country-side,  not  found 
everywhere  else.' 

He  went  on  for  some  little  time  to  give  Wych  Hazel 
pictures  of  the  scenery,  unlike  all  she  had  ever  known. 
He  knew  and  loved  it  well,  and  his  sketches  were  given 
graphically.  In  the  midst  of  this  Gyda  came  in  again  ; 
and  Rollo  broke  off,  and  asked  her,  laughingly,  if  she 
had  any  '  fladbrod.' 

'  Fresh,'  she  said.  '  Olaf,  can't  you  get  her  some 
peaches  ? ' 

Rollo  went  off  ;  and  the  old  woman  began  to  set  her 
table  with  bowls  and  plates  and  spoons  ;  an  oddly  carved 
little  tub  of  butter,  and  a  pile  of  thin  brown  cakes.  Hav- 


JEANNIE   DEANS.  359 

ing  done  this,  and  Rollo  not  returning,  on  the  contrary 
seeming  to  have  found  more  than  peach  trees  to  detain 
him,  for  the  sound  of  a  hammer  was  heard  at  intervals, 
the  old  woman  came  and  stood  by  Wych  Hazel  again. 
The  straw  hat  was  off ;  and  she  eyed  in  a  tender  kind 
of  way,  wistful  too,  the  fair  young  face. 

'  Dear,'  she  said,  in  that  same  wistful  way,  laying  her 
hand  on  the  girl's  shoulder,  '  does  he  love  you  ? ' 

Hazel  started  in  extreme  surprise  ;  looking  up  with 
wide-open  eyes  ;  and  more  pale  than  red  in  her  first 
astonishment. 

'He?  me? — No!'  she  said,  as  the  blood  came  surg- 
ing back.  But  then  recollections  came  too,  and  pos- 
sibilities— and  eyes  and  head  both  drooped.  And  with 
the  inevitable  instinct  of  truth  the  girl  added,  under  her 
breath — 

'  Perhaps — how  do  I  know  ?     I  cannot  tell ! ' 

By  that  time  head  and  hands  too  were  on  the  back  of 
her  chair,  and  she  had  turned  from  Gyda,  and  her  face 
was  out  of  sight.  Wjth  a  tender  little  smile,  which  she 
could  not  see,  the  old  Norse  woman  stood  beside  her, 
and  with  tender  fingers  which  she  did  feel,  smoothed 
and  stroked  the  hair  on  each  side  of  her  head.  For  a 
few  minutes. 

'  And,  dear,'  she  said  presently,  in  the  same  soft  way, 
'  do  you  love  him  ? ' 

There  are  questions,  confusing  enough  when  merely 
propounded  by  ourselves,  in  the  solitude  of  our  hearts; 
but  which  when  coming  first  from  the  lips  of  another, 
before  they  have  been  fairlv  recognized  as  questions, 
become  simply  unbearable.  Hazel  shrank  away  from 
the  words,  gentle  as  they  were,  with  one  of  her  quick 
gestures. 


360  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  do  not  know,'  she  cried.  '  I  have  never  thought ! 
I  have  no  business  to  know  ! ' 

And  lifting  her  head  for  a  moment,  with  eyes  all 
grave  and  troubled  and  almost  tearful,  she  looked  into 
the  face  of  the  old  Norwegian,  mutely  beseeching  her 
to  be  merciful,  and  not  push  her  advantage  any  fur- 
ther. 

'  I  know  ! '  said  Gyda,  softly.  '  But  it's  only  me.' 
And  as  if  recognizing  a  bond  which  Wych  Hazel  did 
not,  she  lifted  one  little  white  hand  in  her  two  brown 
ones  and  kissed  it. 

'  Everybody  shews  me  their  hearts,'  she  went  on  ; 
'but  it's  all  here,'  touching  her  breast,  and  meaning 
probably  that  it  went  no  further.  '  May  I  love  my  lad's 
lady  a  little  bit?' 

A  strangely  humble,  wistful,  sweet  look  she  bent  on 
Hazel  as  she  spoke  ;  to  which  the  girl  herself,  too  dumb- 
founded and  shaken  off  her  feet  to  quite  know  where  she 
was,  could  find  no  better  answer  than  a  full  rush  of 
bright  drops  to  her  eyes,  coming  she  knew  not  whence  ; 
and  then  a  deep  suffusion  of  throat  and  cheeks  and 
brow,  that  was  much  better  recognized  and  said  it  meant 
to  stay.  Her  head  went  down  again. 

'  Now  it's  only  me,'  said  the  old  woman,  quietly  again. 
But  Rollo's  voice  was  heard  from  somewhere  speaking  her 
name,  and  she  hurried  out.  There  was  a  little  interval, 
and  then  she  came  back  bearing  dishes  to  set  on  the  ta- 
ble. Back  and  forth  she  went  several  times,  and  very 
likely  had  found  more  things  to  take  up  Rollo's  attention ; 
for  he  came  not  until  she  had  her  board  all  ready  and 
summoned  him.  It  was  a  well  spread  board  when  all 
was  done.  Shallow  dishes  of  porridge,  piles  of  fladbrod, 
bowls  of  cream,  peaches,  and  coffee.  And  when  Gyda 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  361 

with  due  care  had  made  a  cup  for  Wych  Hazel  and 
brought  it  to  her  hand,  the  little  lady  was  obliged  to 
confess  that  it  was  better  than  even  Chickaree  manufac- 
ture. And  the  porridge  was  no  brown  farinaceous  mass 
in  a  rough  and  crude  state,  but  came  to  table  in  thin, 
gelatinous  cakes,  sweet  and  excellent  when  broken  into 
the  cream.  But  if  Miss  Wych  had  been  afterwards  put  in 
the  witness-box  to  tell  what  she  had  been  eating,  I  think 
she  would  have  refused  to  be  sworn.  The  sheer  neces- 
sity of  the  case  had  made  her  hold  up  her  head — cool 
her  cheeks  she  could  not ;  but  she  took  what  was 
given  her,  and  talked  of  it  and  praised  it  almost  as 
steadily  as  if  she  had  known  what  it  was.  Only,  as 
extreme  timidity  is  with  some  people  an  unnerving 
thing,  there  were  moments  when,  do  what  she  would,  her 
lips  must  be  screened  behind  the  cup,  and  words  that 
she  said  which  were  almost  hoarse  from  the  extreme 
difficulty  with  which  they  were  spoken.  As  for  a  laugh, 
she  tried  it  once. 

She  was  served  and  tended  with,  it  is  hard  to  say 
whether  most  care  or  most  pleasure,  by  both  her  com- 
panions. Midway  of  the  meal  came  a  help  to  her  shy- 
ness. 

The  door  slowly  opened  and  a  girl  stepped  in.  She  might 
have  been  fourteen  or  fifteen  ;  she  was  tall  enough  for 
that;  but  the  little  figure  was  like  a  rail.  So  slight,  so 
thin,  so  little  relieved  by  any  sufficiency  of  drapery  in 
her  poor  costume.  But  the  face  was  above  all  thin,  pale, 
worn  ;  with  eyes  that  looked  large  and  glassy  from  v.  ant 
and  weariness.  She  came  in,  but  then  stood  still,  look- 
ing at  the  party  where  she  had  expected  to  find  only  the 
old  Norwegian  woman. 

'  Who  is  this  ? '  said  Rollo  to  Gyda. 


362  WYCII    HAZEL. 

'  It  is  Triidchen,  of  the  Hollow.  What  is  wanting,  my 
child  ? '  said  Gyda. 

'  Come  seeking  medicine  for  the  mind  or  body  ? '  said 
Rollo.  But  after  a  second  glance  he  rose  up,  went  to 
the  girl  and  offered  her  a  chair.  She  looked  at  him 
without  seeming  to  know  his  meaning. 

'  Speak  Deutsch,  Olaf,'  said  Gyda,  '  and  ye'll  get  bet- 
ter hearing.  She  can't  speak  yon.' 

A  few  words  in  German  made  a  change.  The  wan 
face  waked  up  a  little  and  looked  astonished  at  the 
speaker.  Rollo  seated  her ;  then  poured  out  himself  a 
cup  of  Gyda's  coffee,  creamed  and  sugared  it  duly,  and 
offered  it  to  the  girl  with  the  observance  he  would  have 
given  to  a  lady.  Then  he  moved  her  chair  nearer  to  the 
table,  and  supplied  porridge  and  then  peaches  ;  talking 
and  talking  to  her  ajl  the  while.  The  answers  began  to 
come  at  last ;  the  girl's  colour  changed  with  the  coffee 
and  her  eyes  brightened  with  every  spoonful  of  the 
cream  and  porridge  ;  and  at  last  came  a  smile — what 
was  it  like? — like  the  wintriest  gleam  of  a  cold  sky 
upon  a  cold  world.  Rollo  got  better  than  that,  how- 
ever, before  he  was  done. 

He  had  come  back  to  Wych  Hazel  and  left  the  girl  to 
finish  her  supper  in  peace  ;  when  suddenly  his  attention 
was  attracted  by  some  question  addressed  by  the  latter 
to  Gyda.  He  looked  up  and  himself  answered.  The 
girl  started  from  her  seat  with  a  degree  of  animation  she 
had  given  no  symptom  of  till  then,  said  a  few  words  very 
eagerly  and  hurriedly,  and  darted  from  the  door  like  a 
sprite. 

'  What  now  ? '  said  Hazel,  looking  after  the  girl. 
'  What  has  Mr.  Rollo  done  ? ' 

4  Cut  short  somebody's  supper,  I'm   afraid.     But  she 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  363 

finished  her  porridge,  didn't  she  ?  And  has  taken  one 
peach  with  her  !  Do  they  all  look  like  that,  Gyda  ? ' 

Gycla  answered  that  they  were  '  very  bad ; '  she  meant 
in  their  way  of  life  and  their  thriving  on  it. 

'  And  how  otherwise  ? ' 

There  seemed  to  be  not  much  to  say  'otherwise.' 
They  were  very  good  to  her,  Gyda  remarked.  Wych 
Hazel  listened,  but  she  risked  no  more  questions.  The 
supper  lingered  a  while  longer ;  Gyda  and  Rollo  talk- 
ing of  various  things  and  drawing  in  Wych  Hazel  when 
they  could  ;  then  Gyda  fetched  a  book  and  opened  it 
and  laid  before  Rollo.  He  left  the  table  and  came  to 
Wych  Hazel's  side. 

'  Gyda  always,  when  she  can,  has  prayers  with  her 
visitors,'  he  said,  '  and  she  makes  them  read  for  her. 
She,  and  I,  would  like  it  if  you  would  do  the  reading  to- 
night. W'ill  you  ? ' 

How  easily  she  started  to-night ! — Hazel  answered 
without  looking  up — 

'  She  would  rather  have  you.' 

'  No,  she  wouldn't.  Excuse  me  !  She  asked  me  to 
ask  you.' 

The  girl  had  not  found  her  feet  yet,  nor  got  clear  of  her 
bewilderment.  And  so,  before  she  more  than  half  knew 
what  she  was  about  she  had  taken  the  book  and  was 
reading — absolutely  reading  aloud  to  those  two  ! — the 
ninety-first  Psalm.  Aloud,  it  was  ;  but  only  because  the 
voice  was  so  wonderfully  clear  and  sweet-toned  could 
they  have  heard  a  word.  As  it  was,  neither  listener  lost 
one. 

They  knelt  then,  and  Gyda  uttered  a  prayer  sweet 
enough  to  follow  the  Psalm.  A  little  louder  than  Wych 
Hazel's  low  key,  but  no  less  quiet  in  tone.  It  was  not 


364  WYCII    HAZEL. 

long  :  she  took  those  two,  as  it  were,  in  the  arms  of  her 
love,  and  presented  them  as  candidates  for  all  the  bless- 
ings of  the  Psalm  •  making  her  plea  for  the  two,  some- 
how, a  compound  and  homogeneous  one. 

The  sun  was  down  :  it  was  time  to  get  to  horse — for  the 
riders.  Gyda's  farewells  were  very  affectionate  in  feel- 
ing, though  also  very  quiet  in  manner. 

'  Will  you  come  to  see  me  again  ? '  she  asked  of  Wych 
Hazel,  while  Rollo  was  gone  out  to  see  to  the  horses. 

'Will  you  let  me?     I  should  like  to  come.' 

'  Then  you'll  come,'  said  Gyda.  She  had  shaken 
hands  with  Rollo  before.  But  now  when  he  came  in  for 
Wych  Hazel  he  went  up  to  where  Gyda  was  standing, 
bent  down  and  kissed  her. 

'  Miss  Kennedy,  have  you  said  "  Tak  for  maden  ?  "  ' 

'  I  ?  No.  How  should  I  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel  ;  '  is  it 
a  spell  ? ' 

'  Come  here,'  said  he,  laughing.  '  You  must  shake 
hands  with  Gyda  and  say,  "Tak  for  maden  ;"  that  is, 
"  Thanks  for  the  meat."  That  is  Norwegian  good  man- 
ners, and  you  are  in  a  Norwegian  house.  Come  and 
say  it.' 

She  came  shyly,  trying  to  laugh  too,  and  again  held 
out  her  hand  ;  stammering  a  little  over  the  unaccus- 
tomed syllables,  but  rather  because  they  were  prescribed 
than  because  they  were  difficult.  Certainly  if  there  was 
a  spell  in  the  air  that  night  Wych  Hazel  thought  it  had 
got  hold  of  her. 

'  That's  proper,'  said  Rollo,  '  and  now  we'll  go.  It 
ought  to  have  been  said  when  we  rose  from  table  ;  but 
better  late  than  never.  That's  your  first  lesson  in 
Norse.' 

Rollo  had  been  in  a  sort  of  quiet,  gay  mood  all  the 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  365 

afternoon.  Out  of  the  house  and  in  the  saddle  this 
mood  seemed  to  be  exchanged  for  a  different  one.  He 
was  silent,  attending  to  his  business  with  only  a  word 
here  and  there,  alert  and  grave.  The  words  to  the  ear, 
however,  were  free  and  pleasant  as  ever.  At  the  bottom 
of  the  hill,  in  the  meadow,  he  came  close  to  Wych  Hazel's 
side. 

'  Don't  canter  here,'  said  he.  '  Trot.  Not  very  fast, 
for  the  people  are  out  from  their  work  now,  many  of 
them.  But  we'll  go  as  fast  as  we  can.' 

'  Fast  as  you  like,'  she  answered.  '  I  will  follow  your 
pace.' 

'  No,'  said  he,  smiling ;  '  we  might  run  over  some- 
body.' 

The  people  were  out  from  their  work,  and  many  of 
them  stood  in  groups  and  parties  along  the  sides  of  the 
street.  It  was  an  irregular  roadway,  with  here  a  mill 
and  there  a  mill,  on  one  side  and  on  the  other,  and  cot- 
tages scattered  all  along  between  and  behind.  It  had 
been  an  empty  way  when  they  came  ;  it  was  populous 
now.  Men  and  women  were  there,  sometimes  in  sepa- 
rate groups  ;  and  a  fringe  of  children,  boys  and  girls,  on 
both  sides  of  the  road.  The  general  mill  population 
seemed  to  be  abroad.  They  appeared  to  be  doing  no- 
thing, all  standing  gazing  at  the  riders.  The  light  was 
fading  now,  and  the  wretchedness  of  their  looks  was  not 
so  plainly  to  be  seen  in  detail ;  and  yet,  somehow,  the 
aggregate  effect  was  quite  in  keeping  with  that  of  Triid- 
chen's  appearance  alone  at  the  house  above. 

Through  this  scattering  of  humanity  the  riders  went 
at  a  gentle,  even  trot ;  the  horses  pacing  almost  in  step, 
the  stirrups  as  near  together  as  they  could  be.  As  they 
came  to  the  thickest  of  this  crowd  of  spectators,  Rollo 


366  WYCH    HAZEL. 

courteously  raised  his  hat  to  them.  There  was  at  first 
no  answer,  then  a  murmur,  then  two  or  three  old  hats 
were  waved  in  the  air.  Again  Rollo  saluted  them,  and 
in  two  minutes  more  the  mills  were  passed.  The  road 
lay  empty  and  quiet  between  the  high  banks,  on  which 
the  soft  twilight  was  beginning  to  settle  down. 

'  I  like  that,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  impulsively,  forgetting 
her  shyness — she,  too,  had  bowed  as  they  rode  by.  '  Mr. 
Rollo,  is  it  a  secret,  what  you  said  to  that  child  ?  It 
looks  to  me  as  if  she  had  brought  the  people  out  to  look 
at  you.' 

'  Will  you  ride  ? '  said  he.  '  Let  us  have  a  canter 
first.' 

It  was  a  pretty  swift  canter,  and  the  two  had  flown 
over  a  good  deal  of  ground  before  Rollo  drew  bridle 
again  on  coming  out  into  the  main  road. 

'  Now/  he  said,  '  we  can  talk.  There  is  no  secret 
about  anything.  The  girl  asked,  at  Gyda's,  how  soon 
we  were  going  away?  I  answered,  in  half  an  hour. 
Whereupon  she  begged  very  urgently  that  we  would  de- 
lay and  not  get  to  the  mills  till  she  had  been  there  ;  and 
darted  away  as  you  saw.' 

'  Impressive  power  of  peaches  ! '  said  Hazel,  with  a 
laugh.  '  Commend  my  penetration.  I  wish  all  our 
waste  baskets  of  fruit  could  be  emptied  out  in  that  Hol- 
low, and  so  be  of  some  use.  It  would  be  fun  to  send 
Mr.  Morton's  own  grapes' — but  there  she  stopped. 

'  I  am  afraid  you  are  mistaken,'  said  Rollo,  gravely. 
'  The  manner  and  accent  of  the  girl  made  me  apprehend 
danger  of  some  annoyance — which  I  think  she  went  to 
prevent.  The  road  being  a  cut  de  sac,  she  knew,  and 
they  knew,  we  must  come  back  that  way.  Gyda  will 
find  out  all  about  it  ;but  she  said  it  meant  mischief.' 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  367 

'  Mischief  ?     To  us  ? ' 

'  Yes.  They  are  very  degraded,  and  I  suppose  embit- 
tered, by  their  way  of  life  ;  and  do  not  like  to  see  people 
taking  their  pleasure  as  we  are  doing.' 

'  That  was  what  they  were  out  for !  Mr.  Falkirk  may 
well  say  mv  eyes  are  ignorant,'  said  the  girl,  thoughtfully. 

*  But  Mr.  Rollo — is  this  the  only  way  to What  do 

ordinary  people  call  your  friend  ? ' 

'  Gyda  ?  The  name  is  Boerresen — contracted  by  vul- 
gar usage  to  Borsen.' 

;Well,  is  this  the  only  way  you  can  get  to  her  cot- 
tage ? ' 

'  The  only  way  ;  except  by  a  scramble  over  the  hills 
and  fields  where  no  way  is.  I  fancy  you  are  mistaken 
again,  however,  in  your  conclusions  from  what  you  have 
seen  this  evening.  I  do  not  think  they  were  out  to  do 
us  mischief.  Their  attitude  did  not  strike  me  as  like 
that.  I  think  Triidchen  had  been  beforehand  with 
them.' 

'  And  does  Mrs.  Boerresen  like  to  have  you  come  and 
go  through  the  Hollow,  knowing  the  people  ? ' 

'  I  never  heard  of  the  least  annoyance  to  any  one  there 
before.  I  can  only  surmise  that  the  sight  of  a  lady, 
where  no  lady  ever  comes,  excited  the  spite  of  some 
children  perhaps.  And  they  might  have  expressed  their 
spite  by  throwing  a  few  stones.  That  I  half  expected.' 

'  What  would  you  have  done  then  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel 
with  sudden  curiosity. 

'  Dodge  the  stones,  of  course ! '  Rollo  answered 
quietly. 

Hazel  gleamed  up  at  him  from  under  her  hat,  her 
lips  in  a  curl. 

'  That  is  only  what  you  would  have  tried  to  do,'  she 


368  WYCH    HAZEL. 

said.  But  then  Miss  Wych  subsided  and  fell  back  into 
the  closest  rapt  attention  to  the  beauties  of  the  landscape 
and  the  evening  sky. 

'The  only  time,'  Rollo  went  on,  'when  the  least  an- 
noyance would  be  possible,  is  after  work  hours,  or  just 
at  noon  when  they  are  out  for  dinner.  At  all  other 
times  the  whole  population  is  shut  up  in  the  mills,  and 
the  street  is  empty.' 

'  Was  it  your  peaches  then  after  all  ? '  said  the  girl 
suddenly.  '  Or  did  she  pray  us  through  ? ' 

Rollo  gave  her  one  of  the  bright,  sweet  smiles  he 
sometimes  gave  to  his  old  nurse. 

'  How  do  I  know  ? '  he  said.  '  I  think — peaches  were 
sweet.  And  I  don't  believe  Gyda  ever  prays  in  vain.' 

Of  course,  such  an  afternoon,  everybody  had  been 
out ;  happily  the  hour  was  so  late  that  few  were  left  on 
the  road  ;  but  Wych  could  not  escape  all  encounters. 

'  Your  days  are  numbered,  Dane  Rollo  ! '  called  out 
Mr.  Kingsland  as  he  went  by.  '  Coffee  and  pistols  at 
four  to-morrow  morning  ! — And  if  my  shot  fails,  there 
are  ten  more  to  follow.  The  strong  probability  is  that 
Miss  Kennedy  beholds  us  both  for  the  last  time  ! ' 
Which  melancholy  statement  was  honoured  with  a  soft 
irrepressible  laugh  that  it  was  a  pity  Mr.  Kingsland 
would  not  wait  to  hear. 

Then  before  Wych  Hazel  had  brought  her  face  into 
order,  a  sharp  racking  trot  came  down  a  cross-road,  and 
Kitty  Fisher  reined  up  at  her  side. 

'  I  vow  ! '  she  said, — '  you  look  jolly  here  !  The 
Viking  must  have  been  exerting  himself.  So  !  you  are 
the  girl  that  never  flirts  ! ' 

'  What  of  it  ?  '   said  Wych  Hazel,  with  cool  gravity. 

'  O  nothing, — nothing  in  the  world  ! '  said  Miss  Fisher. 


JEANNIE   DEANS.  369 

'  I've  come  to  get  a  lesson,  that's  all.  For  real  instruc- 
tion in  the  art,  commend  me  to  your  cream-faced  people 
who  never  do  it.' 

'  Nobody  ever  saw  cream  the  colour  of  my  face,'  said 
Wych  Hazel  good-humouredly.  'It  is  yours,  Kitty, 
that  always  deserves  the  comparison/ 

Here  Rollo,  who  had  been  sheering  about  for  a 
minute  on  his  springy  bay,  suddenly  came  up  between 
the  two  girls  and  kept  the  brown  mare  too  far  to  the 
left  to  permit  another  flank  movement  to  out-general 
him. 

'  I  should  like  somebody  to  explain  to  me,'  he  said, 
addressing  Kitty,  '  what  flirting  is.  I  have  never  been 
able  to  come  to  a  clear  understanding  of  what  is  meant 
by  the  term.'  -» 

'Very  likely,' said  Kitty,  'seeing  it's  a  muddled-up 
thing.  Never  did  it  yourself,  I  suppose  ? ' 

'That  depends  upon  what  "it"  is,'  insisted  Rollo. 

'Does  it?'  said  Kitty.  '  Well,  if  ever  you  try  it  with 
me,  you'll  burn  your  fingers  and  find  out.' 

Again  in  spite  of  everything  Wych  Ha/el  laughed, — 
ever  so  softly,  but  undeniably. 

'Tell  me  what  it  is, — and  I  will  promise  never  to  try 
it  with  you.'  Kitty's  handsome  face  darkened. 

'  Can  you  reason  back  from  particular  cases  to  gen- 
eral principles  ? '  she  said. 

'  You  always  want  a  great  many  cases  to  form  an  in- 
duction,' said  Rollo,  '  I  thought  you  would  shirk  the 
question.' 

'  Shirk  ?  not  I,'  said  Miss  Fisher.     '  I  was  just  going 

to  give  you  an  instance.     That  girl,  who  has  played  coy 

all  summer,  and  wouldn't  ride  with  a  man  here  because 

she   must   have   her   own    horse,    forsooth  :    suddenly 

2-1 


37°  WYCH    HAZEL. 

waives  her  scruples  in  favour  of  another  man,  and  finds 
she  can  ride  his  horse,  without  difficulty.' 

Wych  Hazel  drew  up  her  graceful  figure  to  its  full 
height,  but  she  said  not  a  word.  Riding  at  ease,  as 
usual,  Rollo  spoke  in  a  voice  as  clear  as  it  was  cold. 

'  Only  a  coward,  Miss  Fisher,  strikes  a  man — or  a 
woman — whose  hands  are  bound.  Good  evening.' 

Lifting  his  hat  with  his  most  curt  salutation,  Rollo 
siezed  the  bridle  of  the  brown  mare  and  made  her 
understand  what  was  expected  of  her,  his  own  bay  at 
the  instant  springing  forward  with  a  bound.  Miss 
Kitty  was  left  in  the  distance.  Neither  was  she  mount- 
ed well  enough  to  follow  if  she  had  had  the  inclination. 
The  run  this  time  was  in  good  earnest,  till  they  drew 
rein  again  near  the  gate  of  Chickaree. 

'  I  knew  I  could  trust  you  to  keep  your  seat,'  said 
Rollo  then  lightly  to  his  companion,  '  even  if  I  was  un- 
ceremonious.' 

'  And  I — '  That  sentence  was  never  finished.  This 
last  run  had  rather  shaken  the  colour  out  of  her  cheeks 
than  into  them.  But  Hazel  had  a  good  deal  of  real 
bravery  about  her ;  and  in  a  minute  more  she  turned 
again  to  her  companion. 

'  Thank  you,  Mr.  Rollo,'  she  said,  gravely.  '  I  think 
you -are  a  true  knight.' 

'  You  might  as  well  talk  reason  to  Vixen  as  to  Kitty 
Fisher,'  muttered  Rollo.  But  in  another  minute  he 
changed  his  tone. 

'  Are  you  tired  ? ' 

'  I  hardly  know.     Which  should  prove  that  I  am  not. 

'  I  am  afraid  it  don't  prove  that  at  all;' 

He  was  silent  till  they  came  to  the  door  where  they  had 
mounted  in  the  afternoon.  Dismounting  then,  and  com- 


JEANNIE    DEANS.  371 

ing  to  Wych  Hazel's  side  to  do  the  same  service  for  her, 
Mr.  Rollo  lingered  a  little  about  the  preliminaries ;  as  if 
he  liked  them. 

'  Mrs.  Bywank  tells  me,'  he  said,  '  that  you  have  been 
eager  all  summer  for  the  riding  you  could  not  have. 
You  must  forgive  her, — she  cannot  help  talking  of  you. 
Will  you  do  me  the  honour  to  let  Jeannie  Deans  stand 
in  your  stable  for  the  present,  and  ride  her  with  whom- 
soever you  please  to  honour  in  that  way.' 

There  was  a  little  inarticulate  cry  of  joy  at  that. — then 
timidly, 

'  But,  Mr.  Rollo ' 

'  Well  ? '  said  he,  softly. 

'  You  might  want  her.  And — if  I  rode  with  other 
people,  they  might  take  me  where  you  would  not  like 
her  to  go.  Will  you  let  me  ride  her  sometimes  just  by 
myself  ? '  she  said,  glancing  at  him  and  instantly  away 
again. 

'  That  is  for  your  pleasure  to  say,'  he  returned  lightly, 
lifting  her  down.  And  then,  detaining  her  slightly  for 
just  half  a  second,  he  added,  laughing, 

'  Please  don't  take  Jeannie  anywhere  that  I  would  not 
like  her  to  go  1' 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE   WILL. 

THAT  night,  and  the  next  morning,  Miss  Kennedy 
had  a  fight  with  herself,  trying  hard  to  regain  her 
footing,  which  was  constantly  swept  away  again  by  some 
new  incoming  tide  of  thoughts.  It  looks  an  easy  matter 
enough,  to  climb  out  once  more  upon  the  ice  through 
which  you  have  broken ;  but  when  piece  after  piece 
comes  off  in  your  hands,  sousing  you  deeper  down  than 
before,  the  thing  begins  to  look  serious.  And  in  this 
case  the  young  lady  began  to  get  impatient. 

'  Such  unmitigated  nonsense  ! '  she  declared  to  herself, 
with  her  cheeks  on  fire.  But  nevertheless  said  nonsense 
lifted  its  head  very  cleverly  from  under  all  the  negations 
she  could  pile  upon  it ;  and  indeed  looked  rather  refresh- 
ed than  otherwise  by  the  operation.  How  Mr.  Falkirk 
had  dimly  hinted  at  such  things,  long  ago, — and  how 
she  had  laughed  at  them  !  Was  this  what  he  had  sug- 
gested her  confiding  to  him  ? — Whereupon  Miss  Ken- 
nedy brought  herself  up  short. 

'  I  should  like  to  know  what  I  have  to  confide  ! '  she 
said.  '  I  hope  I  am  not  quite  a  fool.'  And  with  that 
she  beat  a  retreat,  and  rushed  down-stairs,  and  gave  Mr. 
Falkirk  an  extravaganza  of  extra  length  and  brilliancy 
for  his  breakfast ;  which,  however,  it  may  be  noted,  did 
not  include  any  particulars  of  her  ride.  But  when 
breakfast  was  over,  Miss  Kennedy  for  a  moment  descend 
ed  to  business. 


THE    WILL.  373 

'  By  the  way,  sir,  I  should  tell  you,  Mr.  Rollo  proposes 
to  leave  one  of  his  horses  here,  for  me  to  use  till  my 
own  come, — if  that  extraordinary  day  ever  arrives.  Are 
you  agreeable — or  otherwise — Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

'  I  have  never  made  any  professions  of  being  agree- 
able, Miss  Hazel ;  and  it  never  was  charged  to  me,  that  I 
know.' 

'  No,  sir,  certainly, — not  when  rides  are  in  question. 
But  may  I  use  this  horse,  which  has  the  misfortune  to 
belong  to  somebody  else  ? ' 

'  I  suppose  he  wouldn't  give  it  to  you  if  it  was  not  fit 
for  you  to  use, '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  rather  growlingly  it 
must  be  confessed.  '  Does  he  expect  you  to  ride  it  with 
anybody  but  him,  my  dear  ?.' 

'  As  he  made  no  mention  of  expecting  me  to  ride  with 
him,  sir,  the  question  presents  itself  somewhat  differ- 
ently to  my  mind,  '  said  Miss  Kennedy,  with  some  heigh- 
tening of  colour.  It  had  not  been  a  '  pale  '  morning, 
altogether.  '  Having  a  horse,  Mr.  Falkirk,  may  I  ride 
with  whom  I  like  ? ' 

'  If  the  giver  of  the  horse  has  no  objections,  Miss  Ha- 
zel, I  make  none. ' 

'  I  am  afraid,  sir,  your  long  seclusion  has  slightly  un- 
settled your  mind,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  looking  at  him 
with  grave  consideration,  '  There  is  no  "  giver  "  of  the 
horse  in  the  first  place  ;  and  in  the  second,  you  know 
perfectly  well  that  with  his  first  "  objection  "  to  my  es- 
corts, the  horse  would  go  back.  And  you  used  to  be  so 
exact,  Mr.  Falkirk  ! '  she  added,  in  a  melancholy  tone. 

'  Yes,  my  dear, '  said  her  guardian,  passing  his  hand 
over  his  face  ;  '  no  doubt  my  mind  is  in  the  condition  you' 
suggest.  I  am  probably  enchanted ;  which  does  not 
help  me  to  guard  you  from  falling  into  the  same  awk- 


374  WYCH    HAZEL. 

ward  condition.  But,  Miss  Hazel,  I  have  engaged  a 
new  groom  for  you.  I  desire  that  you  will  take  him  with 
you  instead  of  Dingee.  Dingee  is  no  more  than  a  mon- 
key.' 

It  fell  out,  however,  that  Miss  Kennedy  in  the  next 
few  days  refused  several  '  escorts, '  on  her  own  responsi- 
bility ;  saying  nothing  about  Jeannie  Deans.  Instead 
whereof,  she  went  off  in  the  early  morning  hours  and  had 
delightful  long  trots  by  herself,  with  only  the  new  groom  ; 
who,  she  didjiot  happen  to  remark,  developed  a  remark- 
able familiarity  with  the  new  horse.  Threading  her  way 
among  the  beautiful  woods  of  Chickaree,  wherever  a 
bridle-path  offerfkd,  and  sure  to  be  at  home  long  before 
Mr.  Falkirk's  arrival  to  breakfast,  so  that  he  knew  no- 
thing whatever  about  the  matter.  Just  why  this  course  of 
action  was  in  favour,  perhaps  the  young  lady  herself  could 
scarcely  have  told,  had  she  tried  ;  but  she  did  not  try. 
Whether  other  associations  would  break  the  harmony  of 
some  already  well  established  ;  whether  she  feared  peo- 
ple's questions  about  her  horse  ;  whether  she  liked  the 
wild,  irregular  roaming  through  the  forest 

'  ith  no  one  nigh  to  bender ' — 

as  Lowell  has  it.     This  last,  was  undeniably  true. 

Meantime  Mr.  Rollo  himself  was  away  again — gone 
for  a  few  days  at  first,  and  then  by  business  kept  on  and 
on ;  and  it  suddenly  flashed  into  Wych  Hazel's  mind 
one  day,  that  now,  before  he  got  home,  was  the  very  time 
to  go  and  have  a  good  long  talk  with  Primrose  and  her 
father.  Nobody  there  to  come  in  even  at  dinner  time 
but  Dr.  Authur ;  and  him  Wych  Hazel  liked  so  much 
and  minded  so  little,  that  Dr.  Arthur  was  in  some  dan- 
ger of  minding  it  a  good  deal.  She  would  go  early  and 


THE   WILL.  375 

ride  Jeannie  Deans,  and  get  home  before  the  crowd  of 
loungers  got  out  for  their  afternoon's  play.  At  most  it 
was  but  a  little  way  from  Dr.  Maryland's  to  the  edge  of 
her  own  woods  ;  not  more  than  three  miles  perhaps ; 
four  to  the  gate. 

Primrose  was  overjoyed  to  see  her. 

'  What  does  make  your  visits  so  few  and  far  be- 
tween ? '  she  cried  as  her  hand  came  to  lift  off  Wych 
Hazel's  hat. 

'  Well, — what  does  make  yours  ?  '  said  Hazel,  gaily. 
'  I  am  come  for  a  little  talk  with  you,  and  a  lecture  from 
Dr.  Maryland,  and  any  other  nice  thing  I  can  find.' 

'  Then  we  shall  keep  you  to  dinner,  and  I'll  have  your 
horse  put  up.  I  do  not  see  ,30  much  of  you,  Hazel,  as  I 
hoped  I  should  when  you  came.  You  are  such  a  gay 
lady.' 

It  was  difficult  to  deny  this.  However,  the  talk  ran 
on  to  other  pleasanter  topics,  and  was  enjoyed  by  both 
parties  for  about  half  an  hour.  Then  came  a  hindrance 
in  the  shape  of  a  lady  wearing  the  very  face  that  had 
bowed  to  Wych  Hazel  so  impressively  from  the  carriage 
in  Morton  Hollow.  The  very  same  !  the  long  pale  fea- 
tures, the  bandeaux  of  lustreless  pale  hair  enclosing  them, 
and  two  of  those  lustreless  eyes  which  look  as  if  they  had 
not  depth  enough  to  be  blue  ;  eyes  which  give,  and 
often  appropriately,  the  feeling  of  shallowness  in 
the  character.  But  now  and  then  a  shallow  lake  of 
water  has  a  pit  of  awful  depth  somewhere. 

Prim's  face  did  not  welcome  the  interruption. 

'  This  is  my  sister,  Pruclentia — Mrs.  Coles,'  she  said. 
'  It  is  Miss  Kennedy,  Prudentia.' 

A  most  gracious,  not  to  say  ingratiating,  bend  and 
smile  of  Mrs.  Coles  answered  this.  She  was  a  tall,  thin 


376  WYCH    HAZEL. 

figure,  dressed  in  black.  It  threw  out  the  pale  face  and 
flaxen  bandeaux  and  light  grey  eyes  into  the  more  relief. 

'  I  am  delighted  to  see  Miss  Kennedy,'  she  said.  '  It 
is  quite  a  hoped-for  pleasure.  But  I  have  seen  her  be- 
fore— just  seen  her.' 

Wych  Hazel  bowed — remembering  with  some  amuse- 
ment Mr.  Rollo's  caracole  on  the  former  occasion  all 
about  Mrs.  Coles.  Privately  she  wished  she  had  not 
promised  to  stay  to  dinner. 

'  I  was  frightened  to  death  at  your  riding  ' — the  lady 
went  on.  '  Did  your  horse  start  at  anything?  ' 

'  My  horse  starts  very  often  when  I  am  on  him,'  said 
Wych  Hazel  laughing. 

'  Does  he  !     And  do  you  think  that  is  quite  safe  ? ' 

'  Why  not  ? — if  I  start  too.  The  chief  danger  in  such 
cases  is  in  being  left  behind.' 

Wych  Hazel  was  getting  her  witch  mood  on  fast. 
Mrs.  Coles  looked  a  trifle  puzzled. 

'  But  my  dear  ! '  she  said,  '  the  danger  of  that,  I  should 
think,  would  be  if  the  other  horse  started.' 

'  O  no,  ma'am,'  said  Hazel  gravely.  '  My  escorts 
never  even  so  much  as  think  of  running  away  from 
me.' 

At  that  point  Primrose's  gravity  gave  way,  and  she 
burst  into  a  laugh.  Mrs.  Coles  changed  the  subject. 

'  I  have  been  very  impatient  to  see  one  I  have  heard 
so  much  of,'  she  began  again.  '  In  fact  I  have  heard 
of  you  always.  I  should  have  called  at  Chickaree,  but 
I  couldn't  get  any  one  to  take  me.  Arthur,  he  was  busy 
— and  Dr.  Maryland  never  goes  anywhere  but  to  visit 
his  people — Prim  goes  everywhere,  but  it  is  not  where 
I  want  to  go,  for  pleasure  ;  and  Dane  I  asked,  and  he 
wouldn't.' 


THE    WILL.  377 

'  He  did  not  say  he  wouldn't,  Prudentia,'  remarked  her 
sister. 

'  He  didn't  say  he  would,'  returned  Mrs.  Coles,  with  a 
peculiar  laugh  ;  '  and  I  knew  what  that  meant.  O,  I 
should  have  got  there  some  time.  I  will  yet.' 

Miss  Kennedy  bowed — she  believed  the  fault  must  be 
hers.  But  she  had  not  quite  understood — or  had  confused 
things — in  her  press  of  engagements. 

Mrs.  Coles  graciously  assumed  that  there  had  been  no 
failure  in  that  quarter.  And  Dr.  Maryland  came  in,  and 
the  dinner.  A  nice  little  square  party  they  were,  for  Dr. 
Arthur  was  not  at  home  ;  and  yet  somehow  the  conver- 
sation flowed  in  more  barren  channels  than  was  ever 
the  wont  at  that  table  in  Wych  Hazel's  experience.  A 
great  deal  of  talk  was  about  what  people  were  doing  ;  a 
little  about  what  they  were  wearing;  an  enormous 
amount  about  what  they  were  saying.  Part  of  this 
seemed  to  be  religious  talk  too,  and  yet  what  was  the 
matter  with  it  ?  Or  was  it  with  Wych  Hazel  that  some. 
thing  was  the  matter  ?  Primrose  and  Dr.  Maryland  then 
shared  the  trouble,  for  whatever  they  said  was  in  at- 
tempted diversion  or  correction  or  emendation.  Cer- 
tainly among  them  all  the  talk  did  not  languish. 

There  came  a  pause  for  a  short  space  after  dinner, 
when  Dr.  Maryland  had  gone  back  to  his  study.  Then 
there  was  a  demand  for  Primrose  ;  one  of  her  Sunday 
school  children  wanted  her.  Wych  Hazel  and  Mrs.  Coles 
were  left  alone.  Mrs.  Coles  changed  her  seat  for  one 
nearer  the  young  lady. 

'  I  have  been  really  anxious  to  see  you,  my  dear  Miss 
Kennedy,'  she  began,  benignly. 

'  Some  one  of  my  escapades  has  reached  her  ears  ! ' 
thought  the  young  lady  to  herself ;  '  now  if  I  can  give 


378  WYCH    HAZEL. 

her  a  good,  harmless,  mental  shock, — just  to  bear  it 
out!  —  I  certainly  will. — That  sounds  very  kind,'  she 
said  aloud. 

'  Yes, — you  know  I  heard  so  much  about  you  when 
you  were  a  child,  and  your  connection  with  this  house, 
and  all  ; — and  your  whole  romantic  story ;  and  now 
when  I  learned  that  you  were  grown  up  and  here  again 
I  really  wanted  to  see  you  and  see  how  you  looked.  I 
must,  you  know,'  she  added,  with  her  peculiar  smile. 

There  was  so  much  in  these  words  that  was  incompre- 
hensible, that  Wych  Hazel  for  the  moment  was  at  a  loss 
for  any  answer  at  all ;  and  waited  for  what  would  come 
next,  with  eyes  rather  larger  than  usual.  Mrs.  Coles 
went  on,  scanning  her  carefully  as  she  spoke,  that  same 
smile,  half  flattering,  half  assuming,  wreathing  her 
lips. 

'  I  did  want  very  much  to  see  you— I  was  curious,  and 
I  am.  Do  tell  me — how  does  it  feel  to  have  two  guar- 
dians ?  I  should  think,  you  know,  that  one  would  be 
enough  for  comfort ;  and  the  other  is  sure  to  be  a  jealous 
guardian.  Perhaps  you  don't  mind  it,'  added  Mrs.  Cole, 
with  a  face  so  amiable,  that  if  Wych  Hazel  had  been  a 
cat  it  would  have  certainly  provoked  a  spring. 

The  first  thing  that  struck  the  girl  in  this  speech,  was 
a  certain  sinister  something,  which  by  sheer  instinct  of 
self-defence  threw  her  into  position  at  once.  The  out- 
ward expression  of  it  this  time,  seemed  to  be  just  one  of 
the  poor  jokes  about  Mr.  Rollo.  '  Have  you  two  guar- 
dians ? '  Mr.  Nightingale  had  said. 

'  O  sometimes  I  mind  one,  and  sometimes  I  do  not ! ' 
she  answered,  with  a  laugh. 

'Ah,  but  which  one  do  you  mind? '  said  Mrs.  Coles 
shrewdly.  '  Or  do  they  both  pull  together  ?  To  be  sure; 


THE    WILL.  379 

that  is  to  be  hoped,  for  your  sake.  It  is  a  very  peculiar 
position !  And,  I  should  think,  trying.  It  would  be  to 
me.' 

'  People  say  there  are  a  good  many  trying  situations 
in  life,'  said  Wych  Hazel  meekly,  watching  her  antago- 
nist. Why  did  the  lady  seem  to  her  such  ? 

'  Yes  ! '  said  Mrs.  Coles  with  half  a  sigh.  '  And  to  be 
young  and  rich  and  gifted  with  beauty  and  loaded  with 
admiration,  isn't  the  worst ;  if  it  is  trying  to  enjoy  it  all 
between  two  guardians.  Do  they  keep  you  very  close, 
my  dear  ? ' 

('  I  think  she  is  a  little  crazy,'  thought  the  girl.  'No 
wonder — with  such  eyes.' — )  '  A  dozen  could  hardly 
do  that,  ma'am,  thank  you.  Makes  a  more  difficult  fence 
to  leap,  of  course — but  when  you  are  used  to  the  exer- 
cise— ' 

Mrs.  Coles  laughed,  a  thin  peculiar  sort  of  laugh,  not 
enjoyable  to  the  hearer,  though  seeming  to  be  enjoyed 
by  the  person  from  whom  it  proceeded.  She  had  the  air 
of  being  amused. 

'Well,'  she  said,  '  I  should  like  to  see  you  leap  over 
fences  of  Dane's  making.  He  used  to  do  that  for  mine 
sometimes  ;  it  would  serve  him  right.  Does  he  know 
you  do  it  ? ' 

Unmistakeably,  by  degrees,  Hazel  felt  her  pulses 
quickening.  There  was  more  in  this  than  mere  banter ; 
it  was  too  connected  and  full  of  purpose  for  insanity; 
What  was  it?  what  dread  was  softly  creeping  towards 
her  ;  and  she  could  hear  only  a  breaking  twig  or  a 
rustling  leaf  ?  She  must  be  very  wary  ! 

'  I  have  been  riding  in  other  directions,'  she  answered 
carelessly.  '  And  not  leaping  much  at  all.' 

The  laugh  just  appeared  again. 


380  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Of  course  I  do  not  know,  but  I  fancy,  his  fences 
would  not  be  easy  to  get  over ;  Dane's,  I  mean.  He 
was  a  very  difficult  boy  to  manage.  Indeed  I  cannot 
say  that  I  ever  did  manage  him.  He  would  have  his 
own  way,  and  my  father  always  would  take  sides  with 
him.  So  everybody.  So  Primrose.  O,  Prim  won't 
hear  me  say  a  word  against  him.  And  I  am  not  saying 
a  word  against  him ;  only  I  was  very  curious  to  know 
how  he  would  fill  his  new  office,  and  how  well  you 
would  like  it,  and  how  it  would  all  work.  It  is  quite  a 
romance,  really.' 

'  And  it  is  quite  easy  to  make  out  a  romance  where 
none  exists,'  said  Miss  Kennedy,  in  a  frigid  tone. 

'  My  dear  !  you  wouldn't  say  that  your  case  is  not  a 
romance  ? '  said  Mrs.  Coles.  '  I  never  knew  one  equal 
to  it,  out  of  books ;  and  in  them  one  always  thinks  the 
situation  is  made  up.  And  to  be  sure,  so  is  this ;  only 
Mr.  Kennedy  and  Dane's  father  made  it  up  between 
them.  Don't  you  call  your  case  a  romance  ?  ' 

'  What  part  of  my  own  case  ? '  said  the  girl  defiantly. 
If  people  had  come  to  this,  it  was  high  time  to  stop 
them.  '  Perhaps  if  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  speak 
more  in  detail,  I  may  be  able  to  put  you  right  on 
several  points.' 

'  My  dear! '  said  Mrs.  Coles,  again  with  a  surprised 
and  protecting  air,  through  which  the  amusement 
nevertheless  shone.  . '  Don't  you  call  the  terms  of  the 
.will  romantic? ' 

'  What  will  ?  and  what  terms  ? ' — The  defiance  was  in 
her  eyes  now.  '  I  cannot  correct  details  if  you  keep  to 
generals.' 

'  Your  father's  will,  my  clear ;  your  father's  and 
mother's  I  should  say,  for  she  added  her  signature  and 


THE    WILL.  381 

confirmation.  And  I'm  sure  that  was  one  remarkable 
thing.  It  is  so  uncertain  how  boys  will  grow  up.' 

'  And  the  romance  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Will  you 
tell  me  what  version  of  it  you  have  heard  ? ' 

'  Why,  my  dear,  you  know  Dane  is  your  guardian, 
don't  you  ? ' 

The  girl's  heart  gave  a  bound — but  that  could  wait  i 
just  now  there  was  other  business  on  hand. 

'  Well,'  she  said,  '  is  that  the  opening  chapter  ? 
What  comes  next?  I  cannot  review  in  part.' 

'  But  didn't  you  know  that,  my  clear?  Did  they  keep 
it  from  you  ? ' 

Wych  Hazel  laughed, — Mrs.  Coles  was  too  much  a 
stranger  to  her  to  know  how, — and  took  out  her  watch. 
'  I  must  go  in  ten  minutes,'  she  said, — '  and  I  do  want 
to  hear  this  "romance,"  first.  One's  private  affairs  get 
such  fresh  little  touches  from  strange  hands  !  Just  see 
what  a  heading  for  your  next  chapter,  Mrs.  Coles, — • 
;<  N.B.  The  heroine  did  not  know  herself."  Will  it 
take  you  more  than  ten  minutes  ?  '  she  added,  persua- 
sively. 

'  If  you  didn't  know,  Primrose  will  be  very  angry  with 
me,'  said  the  lady,  not  seeming  terrified,  by  the  way, — • 
'  and  Dane  will  be  fit  to  take  my  head  off.  I  had  better 
go  away  before  he  comes.' 

'  Why,  he  is  not  your  guardian  too,  is  he  ? '  said  the 
girl,  mockingly.  '  That  would  prove  him  a  man  of  more 
unbounded  resources  than  even  I  had  reason  to  sup- 
pose.' 

'  No,'  said  Prudentia,  '  it  was  the  other  way.  I  was 
his  once,  practically.  Not  legally  of  course.  That  was 
my  father.  But  do  tell  me — have  I  done  something 
dreadful  in  telling  you  this  ? ' 


382  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Til  tell  you  things  when  you  have  told  me,' said 
Wych  Hazel.  '  No  cross-examination  can  go  on  from 
both  sides  at  once.  But  I  have  only  nine  minutes  now  , 
so  your  part  of  the  fun,  Mrs.  Coles,  will  be  cut  short,  I 
foresee.' — Certainly  Mrs.  Coles  might  well  be  puzzled. 
But  Wych  Hazel  had  met  with  her  match. 

'  My  dear,'  the  lady  returned,  '  what  do  you  want  me 
to  say  ?  If  you  know  about  the  will — that  is  what  I 
was  thinking  of,  I  dpn't  want  to  say  anything  I  should 
not  say.  I  didn't  know  but  you  knew.' 

'  And  I  didn't  know  but  you  didn't  know,'  said  Miss 
Kennedy,  feeling  as  nearly  wild  as  anybody  well  could. 
'  If  you  do  not,  and  I  do,  it  is  just  as  well,  I  daresay.' 
And  she  rose  up  and  crossed  the  room  to  an  open  win- 
dow from  which  she  could  speak  to  her  groom,  Lewis, 
in  the  distance,  ordering  up  her  horse.  Mrs.  Coles  had 
a  good  view  of  her  as  she  went  and  returned,  steady, 
erect,  and  swift. 

'  My  Dear,'  said  the  lady  with  that  same  little  laugh, 
'  I  know  all  about  it,  and  did  twelve  years  ago.  You 
have  nothing  to  tell  me — except  how  the  plan  works. 
About  that,  I  confess,  I  was  curious.' 

'  O  I  shall  not  tell  you  that,  Mrs.  Coles,  unless  I  hear 
exactly  what  you  suppose  the  plan  to  be.  Exactness  is 
very  important  in  such  cases.  And,  by-the-by,  you  must 
be  the  lady  of  whom  Mr.  Rollo  has  spoken  to  me  sever- 
al times,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  with  a  sudden  look. 

'Has  he?     What  did  he  say? ' 

'  Several  things.  But  my  horse  is  coming.  Do  you 
think  Mr.  Rollo  would  really  object  to  our  discussing 
the  "  romance"  together  ? ' 

Was  it  cunning  or  instinct  in  Wych  Hazel?  Mrs. 
Coles  answered  with  a  significant  chuckle,  but  added 


THE    WILL.  383 

— '  My  dear,  you  know  he  has  money  enough  of  his 
own.' 

'  Has  he  ? '  said  Hazel,  seeming  to  feel  the  lava  crack 
under  her  feet,  and  expecting  every  moment  a  hot  sul- 
phur bath. 

'  So  of  course  he  is  not  to  be  supposed  to  want  any 
more.  Didn't  you  know  he  was  rich  ? ' 

'  Never  thought  about  it,  if  I  did.' 

'  No,  I  suppose  not.  But  if  you  never  thought  about 
it,  nor  about  him, — I  declare  !  it  is  hard  that  he  should 
have  the  disposal  of  you  and  all  you've  got.  Rich  !  his 
father  was  rich,  and  his  money  has  been  growing  and 
growing  all  these  years.  I  daresay  he'll  not  be  a  bad 
master, — but  yet,  it's  rather  a  hard  case,  if  you  never 
thought  of  him.' 

Wych  Hazel  was  silent  a  moment,  as  if  thinking. 

'  What  was  the  exact  wording  of  the  will,  Mrs.  Coles  ? 
Do  you  remember  ? ' 

'Wording?  I  don't  know  about  wording,  the  law- 
yers curl  their  words  round  so,  and  plait  them  together; 
but  the  sense  I  know  well  enough  ;  the  terms  of  the 
will.  It  made  a  great  impression  upon  me  ;  and  then 
seeing  Dane  for  so  many  years,  and  knowing  all  about 
it,  I  couldn't  forget  it.  This  was  the  way  of  it.  You 
know  your  father,  and  your  mother,  and  Dane's  father 
were  immense  friends  ? ' 

She  paused,  but  Wych  Hazel  gave  her  no  help. 

'  So  they  struck  up  this  plan  between  them,  when 
Mr.  Kennedy  knew  he  was  ill  and  wouldn't  ever  be 
well  again,  and  that  his  wife  would  not  long  outlive 
him.  You  were  put  under  that  old  gentleman's  guar- 
dianship,— I  forget  his  name  at  this  minute,  but  you 
know  it  well  enough, — Mr.  Falkirk  !  that  was  it.  You 


384-  WVCH    HAZEL. 

were  to  be  under  Mr.  Falkirk's  guardianship,  and  Dane 
was  to  be  the  ward  of  my  father  ;  and  so  it  was,  you 
know.  But  when  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-five, 
upon  making  certain  declarations  formally,  before  the 
proper  persons,  Dane,  the  will  appointed,  should  be 
joint  guardian  with  Mr.  Falkirk,  and  look  after  you 
himself.' 

Mrs.  Coles  paused  and  surveyed  her  auditor  ;  indeed 
she  had  been  doing  that  all  along.  And  perhaps  peo- 
ple of  her  sort  are  moved  from  first  to  last  by  a  feeling 
akin  to  that  which  possessed  the  old  Roman  world, 
when  men  were  put  to  painful  deaths  at  public  and  pri- 
vate shows  to  gratify  a  critical  curiosity  which  observed 
how  they  conquered  pain  or  succumbed  under  it.  Mrs. 
Coles  paused. 

'  But  I  haven't  told  you,'  she  went  on  with  a  look  as 
sharp  as  a  needle,  '  I  haven't  told  you  yet  the  substance 
of  the  declaration  Dane  was  to  make,  to  enable  him  to 
take  his  position.  He  was  to  declare,  that  it  was  his 
wish  and  purpose  to  make  you  his  wife.  Upon  that  un- 
derstanding, with  the  approbation  of  Mr.  Falkirk  and  my 
father,  the  thing  was  all  to  be  fixed,  as  I  told  you.  Then 
you  would  be  between  two  guardians.  And  if  you,  up  to 
the  age  of  twenty-five,  married  any  one  else,  against 
their  joint  consent,  your  lands  and  properties  were  to 
pass  away  from  you  to  him,  except  a  certain  provision 
settled  upon  you  for  life.  And,'  said  Mrs.  Coles,  with 
another  chuckle,  '  I  wanted  to  know  how  it  feels.' 

Had  an  arrow  or  a  bullet  gone  through  her  ?  or  was 
it  only  the  hot  iron  burning  in  those  words?  Hazel  did 
not  know.  The  one  coherent  thought  in  the  girl's  mind, 
was  that  a  dying  standard-bearer  will  sometimes  bring 
away  his  colours.  She  brought  off  hers. 


THE    WILL.  385 

'  I  see  but  two  mistakes,'  she  said,  forcing  herself  to 
speak  slowly,  clearly.  '  But  I  daresay  either  Mr.  Rollo 
or  Mr.  Falkirk  can  point  them  out,  any  time.  I  must 
go.  Good  afternoon.' 

She  was  gone — Mrs.  Coles  hardly  knew  by  which  way. 
The  next  minute  Dr.  Maryland's  study  door  that  looked 
on  the  garden  swung  back,  and  Wych  Hazel  stood  by 
his  side.  Outside  were  Lewis  and  Jeannie  Deans.  Her 
eyes  were  in  a  glitter, — the  Doctor  could  see  nothing  else. 

'  Sir,'  she  said,  laying  her  hand  on  his  book  in  her 
eagerness, — 'excuse  me, — Is  this  story  that  Mrs.  Coles 
tells,  true  ? ' 

In  utter  astonishment,  gentle,  wondering,  benignant, 
the  Doctor  looked  up  at  her. 

'  Hazel  ?  What  is  the  matter  ?  Sit  down,  my  dear, 
if  you  want  to  speak  to  me.' 

She  moved  a  few  steps  off,  as  if  afraid  of  being  held. 

'  Is  this  true,  Dr.  Maryland,  that  she  says  about  me 

and Mr.  Rollo  ? '  The  words  half  choked  her,  but 

she  got  them  out.  '  The  will  ? — don't  you  know  ? — you 
must  know  !  Is  it  true  ? ' 

'  What  are  you  talking  of,  Hazel  ?  Sit  down,  my  dear. 
Prudentia  ?  What  has  she  been  talking  to  you  about  ? 
I  hope — ' 

'  My  father's  will, — does  she  know  ? '  Hazel  repeated. 

'Your  father's  will? — Prudentia? — Has  she  been 
talking  to  you  of  that !  My  dear,  that  was  not  necessa- 
ry. It  was  not  needful  that  you  should  hear  anything 
about  it ;  not  now.  I  am  sorry.  Prudentia  must  have 
forgotten  herself ! '  Dr.  Maryland  looked  seriously  dis- 
turbed. 

'  You  do  not  tell  me  ! '  cried  the  girl.  '  Dr.  Maryland, 
is  it  true,  what  she  says  ? ' 


386  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  do  not  know  what  she  has  said,  my  dear.  But  you 
need  not  be  troubled  about  it.  It  was  a  kind  will,  and 
I  think  on  the  whole  a  wise  one, — guarded  on  every  side. 
What  has  Prudentia  said  to  you,  Hazel  ? '  The  Doctor 
spoke  with  grave  authority  now. 

To  which  Miss  Kennedy  replied  characteristically. 
She  had  caught  up  the  words  as  he  went  on, — 'not 
needful  she  should  know,' — '  she  need  not  be  troubled,' 
— then  it  was  true  !  Everybody  knew  it  except  herself ; 
everybody  was  doubtless  also  wondering  how  it  felt !  For 
a  second  she  looked  straight  into  her  old  friend's  face, 
trying  vainly  to  find  a  negative  there,  and  then  without 
a  word  she  was  off.  And  if  Lewis  had  been  called  upon 
to  bear  witness,  he  might  have  said  that  his  young  mis 
tress  flew  into  the  saddle,  and  then  flew  home. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

WHOSE   WILL  ? 

A  GREAT  new  sorrow  is  a  many-cornered  thing; 
having  its  sharp  points  that  sting,  and  its  jagged 
points  that  wound  ;  with  others  so  dull  and  heavy  and 
immoveable  that  one  is  ready  to  wish  they  could  pierce 
through  and  make  an  end.  And  it  is  quite  impossible 
to  tell  beforehand  on  which  of  them  we  may  happen 
to  strike  first. 

Wych  Hazel  tried  them  all  on  her  way  home  ;  but 
when  that  last  one  came,  it  stayed  ;  and  through  all  the 
sharpness  of  the  others — through  anger  and  mortification 
and  the  keen  sense  of  injury,  and  the  fiery  rebellion 
against  control — the  moveless  weight  upon  her  breast 
was  worse  than  all.  What  was  it  ?  What  laid  it  there  ? 
Not  much  to  look  at.  A  poor  little  plant,  cut  down  and 
fallen — that  was  all.  Nobody  knew  when  it  started,  and 
no  one  could  say  that  it  would  ever  bloom  :  it  had  been 
doubtful  and  shy  of  its  own  existence,  and  she  herself 
had  never  guessed  it  was  there,  till  suddenly  its  fragrance 
was  all  around.  And  even  now,  wilted  and  under  foot, 
f  it  was  sweeter  than  everything  else  ;  sweeter  than  even 
its  own  self  had  ever  been  before.  Yes  ;  of  all  the  bit- 
ter truths  she  had  heard  that  day,  this  that  she  said  to 
herself  was  the  one  supreme  :  Gyda's  words  of  expecta- 
tion would  never  be  made  good. 

'  Never,'   she    repeated.      '  Never,    never  ! ' — and   it 


388  WYCH    HAZEL. 

seemed  to  Hazel  that  in  all  her  lonely  life  she  had  never 
before  known  what  it  was  to  feel  alone. 

This  then  explained  all  his  wonderful  care  of  her, — of 
course  ;  it  was  part  of  his  legal  duty.  She  should  learn 
to  hate  him  now,  she  knew.  Very  likely  he  found  it 
amusing  as  well !  It  must  be  rather  spicy  work  to  a  man 
loving  power,  to  manage  a  wild  girl  and  her  estate  to- 
gether— and  with  that  Miss  Kennedy's  resolution  took 
a  vehement  turn.  And  this  was  why  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
been  so  easy — and  why — and  why —  At  which  point 
thoughts  and  breath  got  in  an  utter  tangle,  and  she  had 
to  begin  all  over  again. 

He  could  not  wait  to  be  guardian  till  she  gave  him 
permission. — '  Well  for  him ! '  said  Miss  Hazel,  with  a 
gesture  of  her  head.  And  then  if  she  married  anybody 
else  without  his  leave — and  she  would  have  to  ask  his 
leave, ! — Would  she  ? — not  quite,  the  girl  thought  to  her 
self.  Neither  in  great  things  nor  in  small  would  he  be 
troubled  much  in  that  way.  Very  generous  of  him  to  de- 
clare his  purpose — of — of —  And  here  suddenly  thoughts 
flew  off  to  Gyda's  soft-spoken  title  for  her, — words  that 
bore  yet  their  freight  of  shame  and  pleasure,  for  Hazel's 
head  went  down.  She  brought  herself  back  sharply. 

Very  nice  of  him  to  tell  other  people  what  he  meant 
to  do  ! — of  course  -for  purposes  in  that  line  were  of  small 
moment,  if  she  had  any.  Things  would  run  in  this  style 
now,  she  supposed  :  '  Thank  you,  Mr.  May, — I  will  ask 
Mr.  Falkirk ;  and  if  he  approves  I  will  ask  Mr.  Rollo 
— if  I  can  find  him,  for  he  is  generally  away.  And  if 
he  says  yes,  I  can  go.' 

No  visitors  saw  her  that  day  ; — arid  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
his  breakfast  alone,  watched  over  by  Mrs.  Bywank. 
'  Miss  Wych  had  a  headache,' — which  was  extremely 


WHOSE    WILL:  389 

likely,  as  she  had  cried  all  night.  But  after  that  the 
world  of  Chickaree  went  on  as  usual,  to  all  outward  ap- 
pearance. 

Some  weeks  had  passed  over  since  the  ride  to  Morton 
Hollow,  when  one  afternoon  Rollo's  bay  again  walked  up 
to  the  side  entrance  of  the  Chickaree  house.  The  fe\v 
days  of  his  intended  absence  had  been  lengthened  out 
by  the  wearisome  delays  of  business,  so  that  that  morning 
had  seen  the  young  gentleman  but  just  home.  In  the 
course  of  a  private  interview  with  Dr.  Maryland  he  had 
received  some  disagreeable  information. 

'  By  the  way,  Dane,'  said  Dr.  Maryland  relunctantly, 
'  I  have  bad  news  for  you.' 

'  What  is  it,  sir  ? ' 

'At  least  it  is  not  good.  How  bad  it  may  be  I  can't 
tell.  Hazel  has  heard  all  about — what  she  shouldn't 
have  heard  ! — the  terms  of  the  will  and  the  whole  story.' 

A  flash  of  very  disagreeable  surprise  crossed  the 
young  man's  face.  He  was  silent. 

'  It  seems  Prudentia  told  her,'  Dr.  Maryland  went  on, 
uneasily.  'I  don't  understand  how  she  could  be  so 
thoughtless  ;  but  so  it  is.  Hazel  was  very  much  excited 
by  what  she  heard.' 

'  Naturally  !     You  saw  her  ? ' 

'  For  a  minute.  She  came  to  me  to  know  if  it  was 
true  ;  but  she  did  not  stay  after  that.' 

No  remark  from  the  opposite  party. 

'  I'm  very  sorry  about  it,'  continued  the  old  gentle- 
man. '  I'm  afraid — I  was  afraid,  it  might  make  you 
trouble,  Dane.  Prudentia  is  much  to  blame.' 

Dane  answered  nothing.  He  wrung  his  late  guardian's 
hand  by  way  of  acknowledging  his  sympathy,  and  left 
the  study. 


3QC  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  had  almost  caught  my  bird ! '  was  his  thought, 
pretty  bitterly  realized, — '  and  this  woman  has  broken  my 
snares.  It  isn't  the  first  time  ! ' 

He  saw,  he  thought  he  saw,  the  whole  character  and 
extent  of  the  mischief  that  had  been  done.  He  knew 
Wych  Hazel ;  he  could  guess  at  the  bound  of  revulsion  her 
spirit  would  make  at  several  points  in  the  narrative  that 
had  been  told  her.  He  knew  Prudentia  ;  he  could  fancy 
that  the  details  lost  nothing  in  the  giving. 

But  the  steadiness,  not  of  feeling,  but  of  nerves  and  judg- 
ment, which  was  characteristic  of  him,  kept  his  eyesight 
clear  even  now.  He  did  not  fall  into  Wych  Hazel's  con- 
fusion of  thoughts  and  notions ;  nor  did  his  hunter's 
instincts  fail  him.  His  game  was  removed  to  a  dis- 
tance ;  that  he  saw  ;  it  might  be  a  long  distance, — and 
how  much  patient  skill  might  be  called  for  before  it 
would  be  within  his  grasp  again  it  was  impossible  to 
guess.  There  were  odds  of  another  hunter  catching  up 
the  coveted  quarry  ;  other  snares  might  be  set,  of  a  less 
legitimate  nature  ;  other  weapons  called  into  play  than 
his  own.  There  are  some  natures  who  do  not  know  how 
to  fail,  and  who  never  do  fail  in  what  they  set  themselves 
to  accomplish.  In  spite  of  disadvantages,  Rollo  had  very 
much  in  his  favour ;  and  this  peculiar  constitution  of 
mind,  among  other  things. 

He  would  go  up  to  Chickaree  that  same  day.  Before 
presenting  himself  there,  he  and  the  bay  horse  travelled, 
I  am  afraid  to  say  how  many  miles  in  two  hours.  But 
nerves  and  senses  were  in  their  usual  condition  of 
excellent  soundness,  and  his  temper  in  its  usual  poise, 
when  he  turned  in  at  the  gate  of  Chickaree,  and  mount- 
ed the  hill. 

Before   he  quite   reached  the  house,   however,  Mr. 


WHOSE   WILL?  391 

Rollo,  being  quick  of  eye,  caught  a  signal  from  among 
the  trees  down  towards  the  garden  :  a  woman's  hand 
raised  in  the  fashion  of  a  Sunday  school  scholar  asking 
leave  to  speak.  Drawing  bridle,  to  make  sure  that  he 
saw  right,  or  to  find  what  this  strange  sign  might  mean, 
he  presently  saw  little  Phoebe  of  the  mill,  who,  leaving 
her  basket  of  muslins  on  the  grass,  now  came  running 
towards  him.  Phoebe's  regard  for  Mr.  Rollo,  it  may  be 
said,  was  second  only  to  her  devotion  to  her  mistress. 

'  I  hope  I'm  not  taking  too  much  of  a  liberty,  sir,'  she 
began,  all  out  of  breath  with  eagerness  and  running, 
'  but  I  said  to  myself  maybe  Mr.  Rollo  would  know  what 
to  do.  For  I'm  sure  Miss  Hazel  must  be  very  sick, — 
and  nobody  takes  a  bit  of  notice.' 

The  inner  pang  with  which  this  advice  was  received 
did  not  at  all  appear.  Rider  and  horse  were  motionless, 
and  the  answer  was  a  grave — 

'  Why  do  you  think  so,  Phoebe  ? ' 

'  May  I  tell  you  all  about  it,  sir  ? '  said  the  girl,  earn- 
estly. Then  without  waiting  for  permission — '  I  never 
have  told  a  living  soul,  Mr.  Rollo  ;  for  Mrs.  Bywank  she 
shuts  me  up  with  :  "  Do  your  work  Phoebe,  and  don't 
talk  ; "  and  so  I  have,  sir,  always.  It  was  one  day  after 
a  ride — for  she's  had  the  beautifullest  horse,  sir  ! — since 
you've  been  away,  I  guess  ;  and  she'd  ride  every  morn- 
ing before  breakfast,  and  come  home  looking — Well  1 
can't  begin  to  tell !  '  said  Phoebe,  enthusiastically.  '  B  it 
Reo  said  it  was  the  flush  of  the  morning  going  through 
his  gate.' 

The  bay  lifted  up  one  foot  and  struck  it  impatiently 
on  the  ground.  His  rider  sat  still,  waiting  upon  Phoebe's 
words.  The  reins  were  on  the  horse's  neck,  but  the 
creature  probably  had  made  up  his  mind  that  any  volun- 


392  WYCH    HAZEL. 

teet  extra  steps  were  unnecessary  under  his  new  master; 
for  he  stood  like  a  rock,  that  one  foot  excepted. 

'  So,'  said  Phoebe,  taking  up  her  broken  thread,  '  of 
course  Jeannie  Deans  (that's  the  horse,  Mr.  Rollo)  be- 
gan to  love  her,  might  and  main,  right  off — as  everybody 
does  ;  but  even  Mr.  Lewis  allowed  he  never  saw  a  horse 
learn  so  quick.  And  it  isn't  often  he  allows  anything,' 
said  Phcebe,  with  the  slightest  toss  of  her  head.  '  It 
wasn't  for  sugar, — sometimes  Miss  Hazel  would  give  her 
a  lump,  but  generally  not  ;  only  she'd  pat  her  and  talk 
to  her,  and  look  in  her  face,  and  then  Jeannie'd  look 
right  at  her,  and  begin  to  follow  round  if  Miss  Hazel 
just  held  out  her  hand.  Some  days  she'd  come  all  the 
way  up  from  the  lodge  just  so, — not  holding  the  bridle 
nor  nothing, — the  prettiest  sight  you  ever  saw,  sir !  She 
didn't  call  her  Jeannie,  either, — it  was  some  short,  queer 
name  that  I  never  did  quite  hear,  she'd  say  it  so  softly. 
Most  like  a  bird's  talk,  of  anything.'  Phcebe  paused, 
smiling  at  the  remembrance. 

It  was  well  her  hearer's  nerves  were  in  training.  He 
waited,  knowing  that  he  should  best  get  the  whole  by 
allowing  the  yarn  to  reel  off  unbroken;  so  now  he 
only  gave  utterance  to  an  attentive  'But  what  next, 
Phcebe  ? ' 

*O,  sir,'  said  the  girl,  suddenly  sober  again,  'one  day 
— I  didn't  know  where  she'd  been,  Miss  Hazel,  I  mean, 
— but  it  was  afternoon,  and  she  was  coming  home.  And 
I  was  out  under  the  trees  like  to-day,  taking  in.  And 
Miss  Hazel  stopped  and  sent  Lewis  back,  and  came  on 
alone  to  the  steps,  sir,— came  like  .the  wind  ! — and 
jumped  off.  And  then  she  off  with  her  glove — and 
you  know  what  Miss  Hazel's  hand  is,  sir, — and  the 
little  white  thing  began  to  fondle  Jeannie  Deans.  Patting 


WHOSE    WILL  ?  3  )3 

her  neck,  and  stroking  her  face,  and  combing  out  her 
mane,  and  fingering  her  ears  ;  and  Jeannie  she  held  her 
head  down,  and  sideways,  as  if  she  meant  to  give  all  the 
help  she  could.  And  I  was  looking  on,  just  among  the  ! 
bushes  like,  when  all  in  a  minute  Miss  Hazel  put  both 
her  arms  right  round  the  horse's  neck  and  laid  her  head 
close  down — and  there  she  stood.' — Phcebe  paused  to 
take  breath. 

'  Not  ill  then,  Phcebe  ? '  said  her  hearer,  in  a  very  low 
tone. 

'  O,  I  don't  know,  sir  ! '  answered  Phcebe,  her  honest 
eyes  all  in  a  flush.  '  I  don't  know  !  For  just  as  I  ran 
up  to  see,  Mr.  Lewis  he  came  back  ;  and  the  minute 
Miss  Hazel  heard,  she  was  off  and  away  up  the  steps 
and  into  the  house,  and  didn't  even  wait  to  see  if  Lewis 
had  found  her  handkerchief.  But,  Mr.  Rollo,  she's 
never  been  to  ride  since  that  day ;  not  once.  And 
sometimes  when  she  looks  round  sudden,  her  eyes'll 
shine  till  they  frighten  you ! '  And  Phcebe  wiped  her 
own  eyes  with  the  corner  of  her  apron,  and  looked  up 
for  aid  and  comfort. 

'  But  Phcebe,' — and  Collingwood  here  made  an  im- 
patient movement  rather  suddenly  and  had  to  be  brought 
back  to  his  business — '  what  is  the  evidence  of  the 
illness  you  speak  about  ? ' 

'  Nothing  else  ever  kept  her  from  riding,  Mr.  Rollo. 
And  she  don't  eat — not  three  bits,  sometimes, — only 
she  'lucinates  Mr.  Falkirk  so  that  he  don't  know.  And 
when  there's  lots  and  lots  of  grand  company  just  gone, 
Miss  Hazel  will  come  walking  up  stairs  'most  like  one 
step  at  a  time.  There's  no  flying  up  and  down  in  the 
house  now,  sir.  And  if  you  could  only  once  see  her  eyes, 
Mr.  Rollo  !  And  you  know  how  she  used  to  sing  every 


394  WYCH    HAZEL. 

five  minutes? — well,  she  don't  do  that ,'  said  Phoebe, 
with  closing  emphasis. 

'  Thank  you  Phoebe,'  said  the  gentleman  at  last,  '  I 
am  very  much  obliged  to  you.  I  will  see  what  is  best 
to  be  done.'  And  with  a  kind  nod  to  the  girl  he  left 
her.  But  Collingwood  walked  every  step  of  the  way  from' 
there  to  the  door  of  the  house.  Dingee  answered  the  first 
summons,  also  showing  his  teeth  with  pleasure  at  sight  of 
Mr.  Rollo  ;  and  ushering  him  in,  darted  away  on  his 
errand.  But  Dingee  presently  returned,  more  thoroughly 
taken  aback  than  often  befel  him. 

'  Can't  make  it  out,  'xactly,  sir,'  he  said,  hesitating. 
'  Fact  is,  it's  drefful  hard  work  to  'member  messages, — 
sight  easier  made  'em  up !  But  Missee  Hazel  say,  Mas' 
Rollo — thought  she  say — please  to  'scuse  her  dis  after- 
noon. 'Pears  like  dat  ar'  headache  done  come  back,' 
said  Dingee,  in  his  bewilderment.  '  He  been  on  hand, 
powerful ! ' 

'  I  daresay  you  delivered  the  message  quite  right, 
Dingee,'  said  the  gentleman,  not  at  all  surprised  at  its 
tenor  ;  and  giving  the  boy  something  to  justify  the  show- 
ing of  his  ivories  again,  he  went  away.  And  the  bay 
walked  every  step  of  the  road  down  the  hill  through 
the  woods  to  the  gates  of  Chickaree  ;  but  from  there  he 
went  in  a  long  straight  gallop  home. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

CAPTAIN    LANCASTER'S   TEAM. 

IT  was  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  one  evening, 
two  or  three  days  later,  when  Mr.  Rollo  was  informed 
that  some  one  wanted  to  speak  to  him.  It  was  Reo 
Hartshorne. 

'  Very  glad  to  see  you  home,  sir !'  said  Reo  earnestly; 
he  was  a  man  of  few  words.  '  I  beg  pardon — but  are 
you  going  to  the  Governor's  to-night,  Mr.  Rollo  ?' 

'Powder?     No.' 

'I  have  just  come  from  taking  Miss  Wych,'  said  Reo, 
and  met  Lewis,  and  heard  you  were  home.  Mr.  Rollo, 
— do  you  know  that  a  four-in-hand  party  goes  from  Gov- 
ernor Powder's  to-night  at  ten  o'clock  ? ' 

'  I  have  but  lately  got  home,  Reo,  and  so  have  not 
heard  quite  all  the  news.  But  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
the  four-in-hand  club.' 

'  Miss  Wych  bade  me  come  for  her  at  eleven,'  said  Reo 
going  straight  to  his  point.  '  And  as  she  went  in,  Mr. 
Nightingale's  man  laughed  and  said  I'd  better  not  lose 
my  time.  Eleven  to-morrow  would  be  nearer  the  mark. 
And  I  might  have  told  Mr.  Falkirk,  sir, — but  you  were 
nearer  by,  and — a  trifle  quicker.  So  I  came.  They're 
to  stop  at  Greenbush  for  supper.  And  if  some  of  those 


396  WYCH    HAZEL. 

young  men  come  out  as  fit  to  drive  as  they  went  in,  it'll 
be  something  they  never  did  before.' 

'  You  came  back  this  way, — with  the  carriage  ?' 

'  Yes,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  How  do  the  horses  go  ?  ' 

'  First-rate,  sir.     Want  nothing  but  using.' 

'  Who  is  with  you  ?     Dingee  or  Lewis  ? ' 

'  Lewis.' 

'  You  are  not  fit  to  be  up  all  night,  Reo.     I  will  take 
Lewis,  and  drop  you  at  Chickaree  as  we  pass.' 
.    '  Fit   to   do  anything  for  my  little  lady,  Mr.  Rollo. 
And  I  know  the  horses.' 

1  Very  well.  Go  into  the  kitchen  and  get  some  refresh- 
ment. Tell  Lewis  Miss  Maryland  and  I  are  going  out 
in  the  carriage,  and  we  will  leave  him  at  Chickaree.  I 
will  be  ready  in  fifteen  minutes.' 

And  in  fifteen  minutes  Primrose  had  been  apprized 
of  the  service  required  of  her,  was  ready,  and  the  party 
set  out. 

To  Greenbush,  round  by  Chickaree,  was  a  drive  of 
twenty  miles  or  more  ;  from  Valley  Garden  it  was  some- 
thing less.  The  road  was  quiet  enough  at  that  hour, 
winding  through  a  level  part  of  the  country,  lying  white 
and  still  in  the'  unclouded  moonlight  ;  and  Greenbush 
was  reached  in  due  time.  The  place  was  little  more 
now  than  one  of  those  old  taverns  to  be  found  on  any 
stage  route,  with  its  settlement  of  out-buildings ;  but  the 
present  keeper  of  the  house  was  an  adept,  and  his  sup- 
pers were  famous.  The  tavern,  however,  unlike  most 
of  its  class,  stood  in  a  patch  of  rather  thick  woodland, 
and  boasted  a  high  surrounding  fence  and  great  gates  at 
either  entrance,  having  been  once  a  grand  mansion. 
House  and  gateways  were  all  alight  now,  and  the  wind- 


CAPTAIN  LANCASTER'S  TEAM.  397 

ing  approach  through  the  trees  was  hung  with  swinging 
lamps.  But  the  entrances  were  guarded. 

'  No  carriage  admitted  till  the  four-in-hands  come  in  ! ' 
said  the  men  on  duty. 

On  foot,  however,  privately  and  humbly,  the  gentle- 
man and  lady  were  allowed  entrance.  Rollo  secured  a 
comfortable  room,  with  some  difficulty,  and  also  order- 
ed and  obtained  supper,  not  without  scruples  and 
grumbles,  all  the  strength  of  the  house  being  enlisted  in 
the  interests  of  the  coming  guests  ;  nevertheless  money 
will  do  everything ;  and  coffee,  cold  chicken  and  bread 
and  butter  were  served  in  tolerable  style.  It  availed 
only  for  outward  circumstances  of  comfort,  for  poor 
Rosy  was  extremely  nervous  and  troubled  i-n  mi-nd  ;  very 
anxious  for  Rollo,  very  discomfited  on  account  of  Wych 
Hazel,  very  doubtful  of  the  part  she  herself  was  to  play. 
Rollo  himself  was — the  red  squirrel. 

Leaving  Rosy  with  a  ki-nd  admonition  not  to  worry 
herself,  and  to  take  some  bread  and  chicken,  he  went 
out  again  to  see  that  the  carriage  was  drawn  up  proper-ly 
out  of  the  way  and  Reo's  refreshment  cared  for ;  and 
then  he  took  post  himsel-f  i-n  the  shadow  of  a  clump  of 
firs  to  wait  for  the  expected  revellers. 

'  Pity  the  lady  hadn't  stayed  too,  sir,'  said  one  of  the 
men.  '  They'll  be  along  just  now.  There's  more  of  'em 
down  than  common,  this  year,  they  tell  me,  and  it'll  be 
a  show.' 

Other  people  thought  so  too,  evidently,  for  vehicles 
of  various  sorts,  and  people  to  match,  began  to  gather 
along  the  road,  till  all  the  space  about  the  entrance-way 
was  well  lined.  An  expectant,  rather  noisy,  crowd,  a 
good  deal  in  the  interests  of  horseflesh  but  with  a  certain 
portion  also  of  interest  in  gay  men  and  women. 


398  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'There  they  come  !' — cried  a  boy  high  up  in  one  of  the 

trees  ;  but  at  first  it  was  only  a  quiet  coach  with  two 

1  horses,  Governor  Powder's  own,  and  at  once  admitted. 

Then  there  was  another  pause — and  at  last  down  came 

,  the  four-in-hands,  with  flashing  lamps,  and  harness  that 

I  glittered  all  over  in  the  moonlight,  and  the  fine  in-time 

harmony  of  the  horses'  hoof-beats.     There  was  singing 

too,  from  some  of   the  turn-outs, — glees  and  choruses 

came  in  a  faint  wild  mingling  that  rose  and  fell  and 

changed  with  the  changes  of  the  road. 

'  Captain  Lancaster's  ahead  !'  said  one  of  the  men. 

'  No — it's  Richard  May.' 

'  See  for  yourself,  then,'  said  the  other,  as  the  first 
superb  four-in-hand  came  up  ;  the  horses  shining  almost 
like  their  own  harness,  the  drag  in  the  newest  style  of 
finish,  and  with  every  seat  full.  A  young  officer  in  un- 
dress uniform  was  on  the  box,  and  by  his  side  sat  Wych 
Hazel.  There  was  time  for  but  a  look  as  the  drag  swept 
round  the  turn — just  time  to  see  who  it  was,  and  that 
she  wore  no  bonnet,  but  instead  a  sort  of  Spanish  dra- 
pery of  black  lace,  and  that  his  horses  gave  Captain 
Lancaster  so  little  concern  that  Miss  Kennedy  had  nearly 
all  his  attention, — then  the  vision  was  gone.  Not 
singing,  these  two,  but  the  spectators  heard  her  sweet 
laugh.  Flashing  past,  followed  by  another  and  another 
though  not  all  of  equal  style.  The  looker-on  in  the 
shade  of  the  fir  trees  just  noticed  that  Kitty  Fisher  drove 
the  second, — just  caught  other  familiar  voices  as  the} 
flew  by. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  Miss  Kennedy's  younger  guar 
dian  felt  there  was  a  hard  task  upon  him  that  night. 
Out  of  all  the  glamour  and  glitter,  the  brilliance  and 
beauty  of  such  an  entertainment,  he  must  be  the  one 


CAPTAIN    LANCASTER  S    TEAM.  399 

to  take  her,  and  substitute  an  ignominious  quiet  pro- 
gress home  in  her  own  carriage  for  the  fascination  and 
excitement  of  Captain  Lancaster's  driving,  and  Captain 
Lancaster's — and  many  others' — homage.  And,  worse 
yet,  the  authority  which  he  guessed  well  enough  the 
little  lady  rebelled  against  more  than  against  any  other 
point  in  the  arrangement  that  had  displeased  her,  must 
must  here  find  its  first  exercise.  However,  well  as  he 
knew  the  bad  move  it  was  for  his  own  game,  Mr.  Rollo 
was  not  a  man  to  shirk  difficult  tasks.  Neither  was  he 
so  unpractised  a  hunter  as  to  conclude  that  any  move 
that  must  be  made,  is  a  bad  move.  He  knew  better. 
So,  though  he  looked  grave  certainly  as  he  walked  back 
to  the  house,  he  walked  alertly,  like  a  man  ready  for 
business. 

He  was  not  in  a  hurry.  He  gave  time  for  the  first 
confusion  to  subside,  and  for  people  to  get  quiet  in  theii 
places  ;  in  so  far,  that  is,  as  comparative  quiet  might  be 
predicated  of  any  point  of  that  gay  evening.  Evening  in- 
deed !  The  moon  was  riding  high  in  the  zenith  ;  it  was 
between  twelve  and  one  o'clock.  Rollo  walked  the  floor, 
and  Primrose,  miserable  and  anxious,  looked  at  him,  and 
dared  not  say  one  word.  Would  Hazel  break  friendship 
with  her  forever  ?  and  kindness  with  Rollo  ?  And  how 
could  Dane  dare  as  he  dared  ! 

When  supper  was  just  about  to  be  served,  one  of  the 
attendants  entered  the  room  where  the  party  was  gath- 
ered, asking  if  Miss  Kennedy  was  there.  A  lady  and  • 
gentleman  wanted  to  see  Miss  Kennedy.  The  message 
in  due  course  of  time  worked  round  to  the  young  lady. 

'  Have  you  got  any  friends  in  these  parts  ?  said  Jo- 
sephine Powder  laughing.  It  was  the  way  of  the  enter 
tainment ;  nothing  was  said  without  laughing. 


400  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Must  you  go  ? '  said  Stuart  Nightingale. 

'  Another  trick  of  Kitty  Fisher's,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 
'That  mysterious  "lady  and  gentlemen"  again!  You 
know  they  sent  my  carriage  away  once.  O  yes,  I  will 
go  and  see  what  mischief  is  on  foot,  and  be  back  in  a 
minute.' 

The  room  where  Rollo  and  Prim  were  waiting  was 
down  at  one  end  of  the  hall ;  and,  dimly  lighted  as  it 
was,  in  comparison  with  the  rest  of  the  house,  it  seemed 
almost  dark.  They  could  see  her  come  down  the  hall, 
three  or  four  gentlemen  following ;  and  she  sending  them 
back  with  laughing  words  and  glances  thrown  over  her 
shoulder. 

'Now  stop  just  where  you  are,'  she  said,  turning 
round.  '  I  go  into  the  darkness  alone,  or  the  charm  will 
be  broken.' 

And  on  she  came  with  her  airy  tread,  and  was  well  in 
the  room  before  she  saw  anybody,  and  a  servant  had  shut 
the  door.  Then  the  change  on  her  face  was  pitiful  to  see. 
In  the  excitement  of  the  drive  and  other  things  that 
night,  she  had  evidently  forgotten  for  the  time  her  new 
trouble.  It  came  back  now  on  the  instant,  and  for  one 
quick  moment  she  put  up  her  hand  to  her  forehead  as  if 
with  sudden  pain.  Then  crossed  both  hands  upon  her 
breast,  and  looked  down,  and  stood  still. 

Rollo  quitted  the  room.  Primrose  came  to  Wych  Ha- 
zel's side  and  threw  her  arms  around  her. 

'  It's  only  I,  dear  Hazel,'  she  said  in  tones  of  mingled 
trouble  and  tenderness. 

Miss  Kennedy  disengaged  herself,  not  roughly  but  de- 
cidedly, holding  Primrose  off,  and  looking  at  her. 

'  What  is  the  matter  ? '  she  said.    '  Is  Mr.  Falkirk  ill  ? 

'No,  dear.' 


CAPTAIN  LANCASTER'S  T.EAM.  •  401 

1  Who  then  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel.  'Prim,  never  kill 
people  by  degrees.' 

'  Nobody's  ill — nobody  !  There  is  nothing  the  matter 
with  anybody,  Hazel — except  you.  I've  come  to  take 
care  of  you,  dear.' 

'  Did  you  ? '  said  the  girl.  '  I  think  you  want  some 
one  to  take  care  of  you,  by  your  looks.  But  I  am  rath- 
er too  busy  just  now  to  read  essays  on  sentiment, — that 
can  wait.'  She  moved  towards  the  door;  but  Primrose 
made  a  spring  and  caught  her. 

'  Wait ! — Hazel,  you  haven't  heard  what  I  wanted  to 
say  to  you.  Don't  be  angry  with  me  !  O  dear  Hazel,  do 
you  know  what  sort  of  times  these  four-in-hand  people 
make  down  here  ? ' 

'  I  intend  to  find  out.' 

'  But  they  are  not  fit  for  you,  Hazel,  indeed  :  it  is  not 
a  fit  place  for  you  to  be.  Hazel,,  they  are  often  tipsy 
when  they  drive  home.  Papa  wouldn't  let  me  be  in  such 
a  place  and  ride  with  them,  for  anything.  How  come 
you  to  be  here  ?  ' 

Hazel  freed  herself  again  with  impatient  haste. 

'  Let  go  of  me  ! '  she  said.  '  The  man  who  drives  me 
home  will  be  sober.  I  will  not  hear  any  more.' 

'  Listen,  Hazel,  listen  ! '  cried  Prim,  clinging  to  her. 
'  O  do  not  be  angry  with  me  !  But  you  ought  not  be  here  ; 
and  Duke  will  not  let  you  stay,  clear.  We  have  brought 
the  carriage  to  take  you  home.' 

Prim  never  could  tell  afterwards  what  sort  of  a  look 
or  what  sort  of  a  sound  answered  that ;  what  she  did 
know  was  that  Wych  Hazel  was  at  the  door  and  had  il 
open  in  her  hand.  Prim's  gentleness,  however,  on  this 
occasion  was  no  bar  to  energetic  action  ;  with  another 
spring  she  -was  at  the  door  and  had  taken  it  from  Wych 

26 


402    *  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Hazel's  hand,  had  shut  it,  and  set  her  back  against  it  \ 
all  too  suddenly  and  determinately  to  leave  chance  for 
prevention. 

'  Hazel,  dear,  listen  to  me.  You  ought  not  be  here, 
and  Duke  will  not  let  you.  He  has  come  to  take  you 
home,  and  he  brought  me  with  him  because  he  thought  it 
would  be  nicer  for  you.  And  he  thought  you  would 
rather  see  me  than  him  ;  but  if  you  won't  listen  to  me, 
I  must  call  him  in.  He  will  not  let  you  stay,  Hazel  ; 
and  Duke  always  is  right.  But  he  thought  you  would 
like  better  to  go  quietly  off  with  me  than  to  have  any 
fuss  made,  and  all  these  people  knowing  about  it  and 
everybody  talking.  Wouldn't  it  be  nicer  to  go  quietly 
without  any  one  knowing  why  you  go  ?  ' 

It  was  indescribable  the  way  in  which  Miss  Kennedy 
repeated  the  word  '  nice  ! '  Then  she  spoke  collectedly. 

'  Prim,  I  do  not  want  to  call  in  any  of  my  friends — 
but  I  declare  I  will,  if  you  do  not  move  away ! ' 

*  Must  I  call  Duke  ? '  said  Prim,  despairingly  keeping 
her  place. 

'  If  you  want  him  ' — said  Miss  Kennedy,  turning  now 
towards  the  bell.  As  the  young  lady  faced  about  again, 
after  pulling  the  bell  rope,  she  was  confronted  by  her 
unwelcome  guardian,  just  before  her. 

It  is  almost  proverbially  known  that  the  meeting  of 
contrasts  is  apt  to  have  a  powerful  influence  on  one  side 
or  the  other ;  unless  indeed  the  opposing  forces  are, 
what  rarely  happens,  of  equal  weight.  What  met  Wych 
Hazel  as  she  looked  at  him  was  power — not  of  physical 
strength  ;  the  power  of  high  breeding,  which  is  imposing 
as  well  as  graceful ;  and  also  the  power  of  a  perfectly 
unmoved  self-possession.  While  there  was  at  the  same 
time  a  winsome,  gentle  look,  that  she  could  hardly  see 


CAPTAIN  LANCASTER'S  TEAM.  403 

in  her  agitation,  the  spirit  of  which  she  could  partly  feel 
in  the  voice  that  spoke  to  her.  Neither  cloud  nor  frown 
nor  discomposure  of  any  sort  was  in  it.  He  bowed,  and 
then  held  out  his  hand. 

'  Are  you  angry  with  me  ? '  he  said.  '  With  me,  if 
anybody.  Not  Prim.' 

In  the  vagaries  of  human  nature  all  things  are  possi- 
ble. And  it  is  undoubted  that  in  the  first  flash  of  eyes 
which  greeted  Mr.  Rollo  there  was  mingled  a  certain 
gleam  of  fun.  Whether  the  prospect  of  a  tilt  had  its 
excitements — whether  she  was  curious  to  see  how  he 
would  carry  his  new  office, — there  it  was.  But  then  the 
eye  shadows  grew  deep  and  dark.  She  drew  back  a  lit- 
tle, not  giving  her  hand  ;  making  instead  a  somewhat 
formal  courtesy. 

'  I  was  called  here,  it  seems,  to  await  your  commands. 
Mr.  Rollo.  May  I  have  them,  if  they  are  ready  ? ' 

'They  are  not  ready,'  he  answered,  in  a  very  low  tone. 
'  Let  Miss  Wych  Hazel  give  commands  to  herself, — and 
be  loyal  and  true  in  her  obedience  to  them.' 

'  I  have  given  myself  a  good  many  since  I  have  been 
in  this  room, '  said  the  girl,  proudly.  '  If  I  had  not  I 
should  not  be  here  now.' 

'  Will  you  sit  down  ? ' 

'  Thank  you — no.  Unless  we  are  to  spend  the  rest  of 
the  night  in  quiet  conversation.' 

'  Then  we  will  make  the  conversation  short.  Miss 
Hazel,  the  company  and  the  occasion  you  came  to  grace 
to-night  are  unworthy  of  the  honour.' 

He  paused  for  a  reply,  but,  as  none  came,  he  went 
on: 

'  You  do  not  know  it  now,  but  in  the  mean  time  I  know 
it ;  and  I  must  act  upon  my  knowledge.  I  have  come 


4°4 


WYCH    HAZEL. 


to  take  you  home.  Cannot  you  trust  me,  that  I  would 
not — for  much — do  anything  so  displeasing  to  you,  with- 
out good  reason  ? ' 

'  You  men  are  so  fond  of  being  "  trusted  !  "  '  she  said 
— quietly,  though  there  was  some  bitterness  in  the  tone 
— '  it  is  almost  a  wonder  it  never  occurs  to  you  that  a 
woman  might  like  it  too  !  I  know  every  one  of  the  car- 
riage party  with  whom  I  came.  And  that  I  did  not  ask 
Mr.  Falkirk's  leave  before  I  left  home  was  only  because 
I  did  not  know  that  I  should  need  it.'  But  with  that 
came  a  quick  painful  blush,  as  suddenly  remembering 
other  leave  that  must  now  be  asked. 

'  I  believe  you  may  be  trusted  thoroughly,  so  far  as 
your  knowledge  goes,'  he  answered,  gravely.  Then 
waited  a  moment  and  went  on. 

'  You  have  had  no  supper.  Will  you  take  some  refresh- 
ment before  we  set  out  upon  our  return  journey  ? ' 

She  stood,  leaning  against  the  wall,  not  looking  at 
anything  but  the  floor — and  not  seeing  that ; — as  still  as 
if  she  had  not  heard  him.  Thinking — what  was  she 
thinking  ? — Then  suddenly  stood  up  and  answered. 

'  I  can  but  obey.  May  I  ask  you  to  wait  five  minutes  ? 
—  Stand  away,  Prim,  and  let  me  pass.' 

But  he  stayed  her. 

'  It  is  better  not  to  set  people's  tongues  at  work.  I 
have  sent  a  message  to  the  Miss  Powders,  to  the  effect 
that  Miss  Kennedy  had  been  suddenly  summoned  home, 
and  making  your  excuses.  As  from  yourself.  No  name 
but  yours  appeared.' 

If  there  was  any  one  thing  he  had  done  which  tried 
her  almost  unbearably,  it  was  that !  There  was  a  sort 
of  quiet  despair  in  the  way  she  turned  from  him  and  the 
door  together,  and  took  the  chair  she  had  refused,  and 


CAPTAIN  LANCASTER'S  TEAM.  405 

sat  waiting.  Rollo  brought  her  silently  a  cup  of  coffee 
and  a  plate  with  something  to  eat,  but  both  were  re- 
fused. 

'  Are  you  ready,  Prim  ? ' 

Primrose  nervously  put  on  her  bonnet,  which  she  had 
with  nervous  unrest  taken  off ;  and  Rollo  offered  his 
arm  to  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Let  me  go  by  myself,'  she  said — again  not  roughly, 
but  as  if  she  could  not  help  it.  '  I  am  not  going  to  run 
away.' 

'  In  that  case  it  is  certainly  not  the  arm  of  a  jailor,' 
said  he,  stooping  down  by  her  and  smiling. 

But  the  words,  or  the  look,  or  something  about  t'i  :n, 
very  nearly  got  the  better  of  Wych  Hazel's  defence.,,  and 
her  eyes  flushed  with  tears. 

'  No — no,'  she  said  under  her  breath.  '  I  will  follow. 
Go  on.' 

'  Certainly  not  me]  he  answered.  '  Go  you  with  Prim, 
and  I  will  follow.' 

One  before  and  one  behind  ! — thought  the  girl  to  her- 
self, comparing  the  manner  of  her  entrance.  She  went 
on,  not  with  Prim,  but  swiftly  ahead  of  her,  and 
put  herself  in  the  carriage,  as  she  had  brought  herself 
out  of  the  house.  Prim  followed.  Rollo  mounted  the 
box  and  took  the  reins,  and,  having  fresh  horses  from  the 
inn,  they  drove  off  at  a  smart  pace.  And  Hazel,  laying 
one  hand  on  the  sill  of  the  open  window,  leaned  her 
head  against  the  frame,  and  so,  wrapped  in  her  black 
lace,  sat  looking  out,  with  eyes  that  never  seemed  to 
waver.  Into  the  white  moonshine, — which  soon  would 
give  way  before  the  twilight  '  which  should  be  dawn 
and  a  to-morrow.' 

For  a  long  time  Primrose  bore  this,  thinking  hard  toe 


406  WYCH    HAZEL. 

on  her  part.  For  she  had  much  to  think  of,  in  connec- 
tion with  both  her  companions.  She  was  hurt  for  Rollo  ; 
she  was  grieved  for  Wych  Hazel ;  was  there  anything 
personal  and  private  to  herself  in  her  vexation  at  the 
needlessness  of  the  trouble  which  was  affecting  them  ?  If 
there  were,  Primrose  did  not  look  at  it  much.  But  it 
seemed  very  strange  in  her  eyes  that  any  one  should 
rebel  against  what  was,  to  her,  the  honey  sweetness  of 
Dane's  authority.  Strange  that  anything  he  disliked, 
should  be  liked  by  anybody  that  had  the  happiness  of 
his  care.  And  strange  beyond  strangeness,  that  this 
girl  should  slight  such  words  and  looks  as  he  bestowed 
upon  her.  Primrose  knew  how  deep  the  meaning  of 
them  was  ;  she  knew  how  great  the  grace  of  them  was  ; 
could  it  be  possible  Wych  Hazel  did  not  know  ?  One 
such  word  and  look  would  have  made  her  happy  for 
days ;  upon  a  few  of  them  she  could  have  lived  a  year. 
So  it  seemed  to  her.  She  did  not  wish  that  they  were 
hers  ;  she  did  not  repine  that  they  were  another's  ;  she 
only  thought  these  things.  But  there  were  other  thoughts 
that  came  up,  as  a  sigh  dismissed  the  foregoing. 

'  Hazel — '  she  ventured  gently,  when  half  of  the  way 
was  done. 

Hazel's  thoughts  had  been  so  far  away  that  she  start- 
ed. 

'  What  ? '  she  said  hastily. 

'  May  I  talk  to  you,  just  a  little  bit  ? ' 

'  O  yes, — certainly.  Anybody  may  do  anything  tc 
me.'  But  she  kept  her  position  unchanged.  '  I  am  li& 
tening,  Prim.' 

'Hazel,  dear,  are  you  quite  sure  yon  are  doing  right  ?' 

'About  what?' 

'  About —  Please  don't  take  it  ill  of  me,  but  it  troubles 
me,  Hazel.  About  this  sort  of  life  you  are  leading.' 


CAPTAIN    LANCASTER  S   TEAM.  407 

'  This  sort  of  life  ? '  Hazel  repeated,  thinking  over 
some  of  the  days  last  past.  'Much  you  know  about 
it!' 

'  I  do  not  suppose  I  do.  I  cannot  know  much  about 
it,'  said  Primrose  meekly.  '  All  my  way  of  life  has  been 
so  different.  But  do  you  think,  Hazel,  really,  that  there 
is  not  something  better  to  do  with  one's  self  than  what  all 
these  gay  people  do  ? ' 

'  I  think  you  are  a  great  deal  better  than  I  am — if  that 
will  content  you. ' 

'  Why  should  it  content  me  ? '  said  Primrose,  laughing 
a  little.  'I  do  not  see  anything  pleasant  in  it,  even  sup- 
posing it  were  true.' 

'There  is  some  use  in  training  you,'  Hazel  went  on  ; 
'  but  no  amount  of  pruning  would  ever  bring  me  into 
shape.'  And  with  that,  somehow,  there  came  up  the 
thought  of  a  little  sketch,  wherein  her  hat  swung  gayly 
from  the  top  of  a  rough  hazel  bush  ;  and  with  the  thought 
a  pain  so  keen,  that  for  the  moment  her  head  went  clown 
upon  her  hands  on  the  window-sill. 

Primrose  was  silent  a  few  moments,  not  knowing  just 
how  to  speak. 

'  But  Hazel,'  she  began,  slowly — '  all  these  gay  people 
you  are  so  much  with,  they  live  just  for  the  pleasure  of 
the  minute  ;  and  when  the  pleasure  of  the  minute  is  over, 
what  remains?  I  cannot  bear  to  have  you  forget  that, 
and  become  like  them.' 

'  Like  them  ? '  said  Hazel.  '  Am  I  growing  like  Kitty 
Fisher?' 

'  No,  no,  no  ! '  cried  Primrose.  '  You  are  not  a  bit  like 
her,  not  a  bit.  I  did  not  mean  that ;  but  I  mean,  dear, — 
aren't  you  just  living  for  the  moment's  pleasure,  and 
forgetting  something  better  ? ' 


408  WYCH    HAZEL. 

1  Forgetting  a  good  many  things,  you  think.' 

'  Aren't  you,  Hazel  ?  And  I  cannot  bear  to  have 
you.' 

'  What  am  I  to  remember  ? '  said  the  girl  in  a  soit  of 
dreamy  tone,  with  her  thoughts  on  the  wing. 

'  Remember  that  you  have  something  to  do  with  your 
life  and  with  yourself,  Hazel ;  something  truly  noble  and 
happy  and  worth  while.  I  am  sure  dancing-parties  are 
not  enough  to  live  on.  Are  they  ? ' 

'No.' 

Perhaps  Primrose  thought  she  had  said  enough ;  per- 
haps she  did  not  know  how  to  choose  further  words  to 
hit  the  girl's  mood.  She  was  patiently  silent.  Sudden- 
ly Hazel  sat  up  and  turned  towards  her. 

'  You  poor  little  Prim  ! '  she  said,  laying  gentle  hands 
on  her  shoulders  and  a  kiss  on  each  cheek, — '  whirled 
off  from  your  green  leaves  on  a  midnight  chase  after 
witches  !  This  was  one  of  Mr.  Rollo's  few  mistakes : 
he  should  have  come  alone.' 

'  Should  he  ? '  said  Primrose,  wondering.  '  But  it 
wouldn't  have  been  so  good  for  you,  dear,  would  it  ?' 

'  Prim  ' — somewhat  irrelevantly — '  did  you  ever  have 
a  thorn  in  your  ringer  ? ' 

'  What  do  you  mean  ? '  Primrose  answered  in  just 
bewilderment. 

'  Well  I  have  two  in  mine.'  And  Miss  Kennedy  went 
back  to  the  window  and  her  world  of  moonlight.  Sh«. 
did  not  wonder  that  the  Indians  reckoned  their  time  by 
'  moons  ;'  she  was  beginning  to  check  off  her  own  exist- 
ence in  the  same  way.  In  one  moon  she  had  walked 
home  from  Merricksdale,  in  another  driven  back  from 
Mrs.  Seaton's  ;  and  now  in  this — But  then  her  head 
went  down  upon  the  window-sill  once  more,  nor  was 


CAPTAIN    LANCASTER  S   TEAM.  409 

lifted  again  until  the  carriage  was  before  the  steps  of 
Chickaree. 

'  Dane,'  said  Primrose,  as  the  two  were  parting  in  the 
dusky  hall  at  home,  '  she  will  never  get  over  this.  Never, 
never,  never ! ' 

He  kissed  her,  laughing,  and  giving  her  hand  a  warm 
grasp. 

'You  are  mistaken,'  he  said.  She  is  a  more  sensible 
woman  than  you  give  her  credit  for. 


T 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

HITS  AT    CROQUET. 

HE  second  day  after  the  four-in-hand  club  affair 
the  following  note  was  brought  to  Miss  Hazel : 

'  Will  you  ride  with  me  this  afternoon  ? 

'M.  O.  R.' 

And  perhaps  five  words  have  seldom  taken  longer  to 
write  than  these  which  he  received  by  return  messen- 
ger : 

'  Not  to-day.     Please  excuse  me. 

'  WYCH  HAZEL.' 

It  happened  that  invitations  were  out  for  a  croquet 
party  at  Chickaree ;  and  the  day  of  the  party  was  ap- 
pointed the  third  succeeding  these  events.  Thither  of 
course  all  the  best  of  the  neighborhood  were  invited. 

The  house  at  Chickaree  stood  high  on  a  hill ;  never- 
theless immediately  about  the  house  there  was  lawn-room 
enough  and  smooth  greensward  for  the  purposes  of  the 
play.  The  very  fine  old  trees  which  bordered  and  over- 
shadowed it  lent  beauty  and  dignity  to  the  little  green  • 
and  the  long,  low,  grey  house,  with  some  of  its  windows 
open  to  the  verandah,  and  the  verandah  itself  extending 
the  whole  length  of  the  building,  with  cane  garden- 
chairs  and  Indian  settees  hospitably  planted,  made  a 


HITS   AT   CROQUET.  41! 

cheery,  comfortable  background.  September  was  yet 
young,  and  the  weather  abundantly  warm ;  the  sort  of 
weather  when  everybody  wants  to  be  out  of  doors.  No 
house  in  the  country  could  show  a  prettier  croquet-green 
than  Chickaree  that  afternoon. 

Mr.  Falkirk  had  mounted  the  hill  in  advance  of  othei 
comers,  and  stood  surveying  the  prospect  generally  from 
the  verandah. 

'  Who  is  to  be  here,  Miss  Hazel  ?  I  am  like  a  bear 
newly  come  out  of  winter-quarters — only  that  my  seclu- 
sion has  been  in  the  other  season  of  the  year.' 

'  Pray  let  the  resemblance  go  no  further,  sir  !  Who  is 
to  be  here  ? '  said  Miss  Kennedy,  drawing  on  her  dainty 
gloves, — '  all  the  available  people,  I  suppose.  Unless 
they  change  their  minds.' 

'  Have  the  goodness  to  enlighten  me.  Available  people 
— available  for  what  ? ' 

'  Croquet — and  flirting.' 

'  If  you  please — I  understand,  I  believe,  the  first  term  ; 
it  means,  to  stand  on  the  green  and  roll  balls  about 
among  each  other's  feet ;  but  what  is  comprehended  in 
"  flirting  "  ? ' 

'  Standing  in  the  air  and  rolling  balls  there,'  said  Miss 
Kennedy. 

'  Ah  !  Don't  people  get  hit  occasionally  ? ' 

'  Very  likely.     But  they  do  not  tell.' 

'  Ah  !  My  dear,  has  anybody  hit  you  ? ' 

'  Thank  you,  sir, — I  generally  keep  on  the  ground.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  suspended  his  questions  for  the  space  of 
five  minutes. 

'  I  have  not  heard  of  your  taking  any  rides  lately,'  he 
oegan  again. 

'  No,  sir.' 


412  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  How  comes  that  ? ' 

'  It  comes  by  my  refusing  to  go.' 

'  Why,  my  dear  ?  said  her  guardian,  looking  her  in- 
nocently in  the  face. 

'  Aren't  you  glad,  sir  ? — How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Kings- 
land  ?  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  explain  to  Mr. 
Falkirk  the  last  code  of  flirtation  ?  while  I  go  and  give 
an  order.' 

*  It  is  the  only  thing  in  which  Miss  Kennedy  is  not  un- 
surpassed,— to  make  my  definition  short,'  said  the  gentle- 
man, taking  a  chair.  '  I  think  she  will  never  learn.' 

Primrose  Maryland  was  the  immediate  next  arrival ; 
and  she  sat  down  on  the  other  side  of  Mr.  Falkirk,  look- 
ing as  innocent  as  her  name.  Mr.  Falkirk  had  always 
a  particular  favour  for  Primrose. 

'Did  you  come  alone,  my  dear?'  he  incautiously 
asked  ;  for  Mr.  Kingsland  was  at  his  other  elbow.  And 
Prim  knew  no  better  than  to  answer  according  to  fact. 

'  Where  is  Rollo  ? ' 

'  I  don't  know,  sir.     I  suppose  he  is  at  home.' 

'  Doubtless  thinking  one  guardian  may  suffice — as  it 
is  a  mere  croquet  party,'  said  Mr.  Kingsland  smoothly, 
but  with  a  covert  glance  of  his  eye  at  Mr.  Falkirk.  Both 
Primrose  and  Mr.  Falkirk  glanced  at  him  in  return,  but 
his  words  got  no  other  recognition,  for  people  began  to 
come  upon  the  scene.  And  the  scene  speedily  became 
gay ;  everybody  arriving  by  the  side  entrance  and  pass- 
ing through  the  broad  hall  to  the  front  of  the  house. 
Wych  Hazel,  returned  from  her  errand,  came  now  slowly 
through  the  hall  herself  with  the  last-  arrival. 

'  I  feared  you  were  ill  with  fatigue,'  said  a  pleasant 
man's  voice.  '  Three  times  I  have  called  to  inquire, 
and  three  times  gone  away  in  despair.' 


HITS   AT   CROQUET.  413 

'  I  was  very  tired.' 

'  But  what  was  the  matter  ? '  said  the  gentleman,  paus- 
ing in  the  doorway.  '  Some  call  of  sudden  illness  ?  a 
demand  upon  your  sympathies  ? ' 

'  Nothing  of  the  kind.' 

'  How  then  ? '  said  Captain  Lancaster,  with  an  ap- 
pearance of  great  interest.  '  One  does  not  lose  a  pleas- 
ure— and  such  a  pleasure — without  at  least  begging  to 
know  why.  If  it  is  permitted.  We  began  to  think  that 
the  witches  must  have  got  hold  of  you  in  that  dark  room.' 

'  One  did,'  said  the  girl,  so  gravely  that  Captain  Lan- 
caster was  posed.  She  knew  perfectly  well  what  ears 
were  listening  ;  but  there  was  something  in  her  nature 
which  always  disdained  to  creep  out  of  a  diffculty  ;  so 
she  stood  still,  and  answered  as  he  had  spoken,  aloud. 

'  O,  Miss  Kennedy,'  cried  Molly  Seaton,  '  that's  a  fib. 
Not  a  real  witch  ? ' 

'  Pretty  genuine,  I  think,'  said  Hazel,  with  her  half 
laugh. 

Now  there  is  no  way  in  the  world  to  puzzle  people 
like  telling  them  the  truth.  The  gentleman  and  the  lady 
were  puzzled.  Stuart  Nightingale  and  half  a  dozen 
more  came  up  at  the  instant ;  and  the  question  of  the 
game  to  be  played,  for  the  time  scattered  all  other  ques- 
tions. 

For  a  while  now  the  little  green  at  Chickaree  was  a 
pretty  sight.  Dotted  with  a  moving  crowd  of  figures,  in 
gay-coloured  dresses,  moving  in  graceful  lines  or  stand- 
ing in  pretty  attitudes  ;  the  play,  the  shifting  of  places, 
the  cries  and  the  laughter,  all  made  a  flashing,  chang- 
ing picture,  full  of  life  and  full  of  picturesque  pret- 
tiness.  The  interests  of  the  game  were  at  first  ab- 
sorbing. When  a  long  match  had  been  played,  however, 


414  WYCH    HAZEL. 

and  there  was  a  pause  for  refreshments,  there  was  also 
a  chance  for  rolling  balls  in  the  more  airy  manner  Wych 
Hazel  had  indicated. 

'  What  was  the  matter  the  other  night  ? '  Stuart  Night- 
ingale demanded  softly,  as  he  brought  the  little  lady  of 
the  house  an  ice. 

'  I  could  not  stay.' 

'  Summoned  home  by  no  disaster  ? ' — 

'  It  was  a  sort  of  disaster  to  me  to  be  obliged  to  go,' 
said  Wych  Hazel,  '  but  I  found  neither  earthquake  nor 
volcano  at  home.' 

'Who  came  for  you,  Hazel?'  said  Phinny  Powder, 
pushing  into  the  group  which  was  forming.  '/  said  it 
was  downright  wicked  to  let  you  go  off  so.  How  did 
we  know  but  that  something  dreadful  had  got  hold 
of  you  ?  I  thought  they  ought  all  of  them  to  go  in  a 
body  and  knock  the  doors  down  and  find  out.  But  after 
your  message  they  wouldn't.  Who  did  come  for  you, 
Hazel  ? ' 

'  Who  did  ? '  said  Hazel.  '  Do  you  think  it  could 
have  been  the  same  parties  who  once  sent  away  my 
carriage  when  I  wanted  it  ? ' 

'  No,'  said  Phinny  ;  '  I  know  it  wasn't.  But  who  did 
come  for  you,  Hazel  ?  Nobody  knew  where  you  were. 
And  what  made  you  go,  if  there  was  no  earthquake  at 
home,  as  you  said  ? ' 

'  Were  you  made  to  go,  really  ? '  asked  Mme.  Lasalle, 
slyly.  '  Has  Josephine  hit  the  mark  with  a  stray  arrow  ? ' 

'  O,  of  course  I  was  made  to  go, — or  I  shouldn't  have 
gone,'  said  Wych  Hazel  lightly.  '  My  own  carriage 
came  for  me,  Josephine,  and  I  came  home  in  it.  Do 
you  feel  any  better  ? ' 

'No,   I  don't!'   said  that  young  lady  boldly,   while 


HITS    AT   CROQUET.  415 

others  who  were  silent  used  their  eyes.  '  You  didn't 
order  it,  and  I  just  want  to  know  who  did.  O,  Hazel, 
I  want  to  ask  you — '  But  she  lowered  her  voice  and 
glanced  round  her  suspiciously. 

'  Is  it  safe  ?     Where  is  that  old  Mr. ?  do  you  see 

him  anywhere  ?  He  has  eyes,  and  I  suppose  he  has 
ears.  Hush  !  I  guess  it's  safe.  Hazel,  my  dear,  have 
you  got  two  guardians,  you  poor  creature  ? ' 

'  Have  you  only  just  found  that  out  ? '  said  Hazel 
drawing  a  little  back  from  the  whisper  and  answering 
aloud.  '  Prim,  what  will  you  have  ?  Mr.  May,  please 
bring  another  ice  for  Miss  Maryland.' 

'Well,  I've  guessed  it  all  summer,'  said  Kitty  Fisher, 
putting  her  word  in  now.  '  I  always  knew  that  when 
Miss  Kennedy  turned  round,  the  Duke  turned  too,  to  see 
what  she  was  looking  at.' 

If  truth  be  no  slander,  it  is  sometimes  full  as  hard  to 
bear.  Wych  Hazel  eat  her  own  ice  for  the  next  two 
minutes  and  wondered  what  it  was. 

'  Hazel,  my  dear,  you  had  need  to  be  a  saint ! '  Mine. 
Lasalle  whispered.  'It  is — absolutely — outrageous; 
something  not  to  be  borne  ! ' 

'  But  the  fun  of  it  is,'  broke  in  Kitty  again,  '  that  we 
all  took  it  for  granted  it  was  mere  lover-like  devotion  ! 
And  now,  behold,  c'est  tout  au  contraire  ! ' 

Since  the  day  of  the  ride  it  had  been  war  to  the  knife 
with  Kitty  Fisher. 

'  Kitty  !  Kitty  ! '  said  Mr.  Kingsland  in  soft  depre- 
cation. 

'  My  dear,'  Mme.  Lasalle  went  on  mockingly,  '  per- 
haps he  would  not  approve  of  your  eating  so  much  ice. 
Hadn't  you  better  take  care  ? ' 

'  Must  we  ask  him  about  everything  now,  before  we 


41 6  WYCH   HAZEL. 

can  have  you  ? '  cried  Josephine,  in  great  indignation, 
quite  unfeigned,  though  possibly  springing  from  a  double 
root.  '  O,  was  it  he  came  for  you  to  Greenbush  ? ' 

But  with  that  Hazel  roused  herself. 

'  You  had  better  ask  him  anything  you  want  answer- 
ed,' she  said.  '  I  think  he  has  quite  a  genius  that  way.' 

'  What  way  ?  O,  you  know,  friends,  perhaps  she  likes 
it.  What  way  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Does  he  speak  soft  when  he  gives  his  orders  ?'  said 
Kitty  Fisher.  '  Or  does  he  use  his  ordinary  tone  ?' 

'  And  oh,  Miss  Kennedy,'  said  little  Molly  Seaton, 
'  isn't  it  awfully  nice  to  have  such  a  handsome  man  tell 
you  what  to  do  ? ' 

Now  Hazel  had  been  at  her  wits'  end,  feeling  as  if 
there  was  a  trap  for  her,  whatever  she  said  or  did  not 
say.  Pain  and  nervousness  and  almost  fright  had  kept 
her  still.  But  Molly's  question  brought  things  to  such 
a  climax,  that  she  burst  into  an  uncontrollable  little  laugh 
and  so  answered  everybody  at  once  in  the  best  manner 
possible.  The  sound  of  her  laugh  brought  back  the 
gentlemen  too, — roaming  off  after  their  own  ices, — 
and  that  would  make  a  diversion. 

But  it  came  up  again  and  again.  It  was  to  some 
too  tempting  a  subject  of  fun;  for  others  it  had  a  deeper 
interest ;  it  could  not  be  suffered  to  lie  still.  Wych 
Hazel's  ears  could  hardly  get  out  of  the  sound  of  rail- 
lery, in  all  sorts  of  forms ;  from  the  soft  insinuation 
of  mischief  in  a  mosquito's  song,  to  the  downright  at- 
tacks of  Kitty  Fisher's  teeth  and  Phinny  Powder's  claws. 
The  air  was  full  of  it  at  last,  to  Wych  Hazel's  fancy ; 
even  the  gentlemen,  when  they  dared  not  speak  openly, 
seemed  in  manner  or  tone  to  be  commiserating  or  laugh- 
ing at  her. 


HITS   AT   CROQUET.  417 

'  The  diplomacy  of  truth !'  said  Mr.  Kingsland  to  Mr. 
Falkirk,  as  Hazel  passed  near  them  with  Mme.  La- 
salle.  'I  must  believe  in  it  as  a  fixed  fact, — where  it 
exists !  I  should  judge,  by  rough  estimate,  that  Miss 
Kennedy  had  been  asked  about  fifty-five  trying  questions 
this  day ;  and  in  not  one  case,  to  my  knowledge,  has  her 
answer  even  clipped  the  truth.  She  is  a  ninth  wonder, 
— and  from  that  on  to  the  twenty-ninth  !  With  all  her 
innocence  and  ignorance — which  would  not  comprehend 
nine-tenths  of  what  might  be  said  to  her,  I  do  not  know 
the  man  who  would  dare  say  one  word  which  she  should 
not  hear  ! ' — With  which  somewhat  unusual  expression  of 
his  feelings  Mr.  Kingsland  took  himself  away,  leaving 
Prim  and  Mr.  Falkirk  alone  on  the  verandah. 

But  it  was  a  rather  weary-faced  young  hostess  that  wrap- 
ped Prim  up,  after  that,  and  the  lips  that  kissed  her  were 
hot. 

Mr.  Falkirk  went  down  to  his  cottage  and  came  back 
to  breakfast  the  next  morning,  without  having  broached 
to  his  ward  several  subjects  which  stirred  his  thoughts. 
Finding  himself  in  the  fresh  light  of  the  new  day,  and  in 
the  security  of  the  early  morning,  seated  opposite  Miss 
Hazel  at  the  breakfast  table,  with  the  croquet  confusion  a 
thing  of  the  past,  he  opened  his  mind. 

'  You  had  no  wine  yesterday,  my  dear,  I  observed.' 

'  No,  sir.     As  I  intended.' 

'  That  is  not  according  to  custom — of  other  people.' 

'  It  is  my  custom — henceforth,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

'  Are  the  reasons  too  abstruse  for  my  comprehension  ?' 

The  girl  looked  up  at  him,  her  eyes  kindling. 

'  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said,  '  if  ever  again  a  man  gets   a 
glass  of  wine   from  my  hand,  or  in  my  house,  I  shall 
deserve  to  live  that  July  night  all  over ! ' 
27 


418  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Mr.  Falkirk  did  not  at  all  attempt  to  combat  this  con- 
clusion. He  ate  his  toast  with  an  extremely  thoughtful 
face  for  some  minute  or  two. 

'  Suppose,  by  and  by,  there  should  be  two  words  to 
that  bargain  ? ' 

'  Then  there  will  be  several  more,  sir, — that  is  all,' 
she  said  steadily,  though  her  face  glowed. 

'  You  mean  that  you  will  fight  for  your  position  ? ' 

'  Inch  by  inch.     Fight  for  it,  and  keep  it.' 

Mr  Falkirk's  lips  gave  way  a  little,  though  with  what 
expression  it  was  impossible  to  determine. 

'  To  remark  that  your  position  will  be  remarked  upon 
as  peculiar  is,  I  am  aware,  to  make  a  fruitless  expendi- 
ture of  words  in  your  hearing,  Miss  Hazel.  But  it  will 
not  make  much  difference  what  you  do,  my  dear.  They 
will  find  the  article,  in  its  varieties,  at  every  other  house 
that  is  open  to  them.'  Mr.  Falkirk  was  thinking  prob- 
ably of  young  men. 

'  Well,  sir — I,  at  least,  will  have  no  part  in  making  any 
man  unfit  to  speak  to  a  woman.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  ruminated  again,  and  then  broke  out : 

'  Why  did  not  Rollo  come  with  Miss  Maryland  yester- 
day?' 

'  I  presume,  because  he  did  not  want  to  come, — but 
perhaps  you  had  better  ask  him,'  said  Miss  Hazel. 

'  Why  should  I  ask  him  ? '  returned  her  guardian,  look- 
ing up  at  her.  '  Has  Mr.  Rollo  offended  you,  Miss 
Hazel  ? ' 

'  I  merely  thought  you  wanted  to  know,  sir.  No,'  she 
answered,  to  his  last  question.  '  He  was  invited — if  that 
is  what  you  mean.' 

'  I  fancied,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  looking  puzzled,  '  that 
in  the  general  buzz  of  tongues  yesterday — which  is  fit  to 


HITS    AT    CROQUET.  419 

confuse  anything  with  more  brains  than  a  mosquito — I 
heard  various  buzzings  which  seemed  to  have  reference 
to  him.  Perhaps  I  was  wrong.  I  did  not  mean  to  lis- 
ten, but  if  a  fly  gets  into  your  ear  it  is  difficult  not  to 
know  it.  Was  I  right,  or  was  I  wrong  ? ' 

'  Right,  I  fancy,  sir.  Mr.  Rollo's  name  is  very  often 
upon  people's  tongues.' 

'  What  did  they  mean  ?     What  was  it  about  ? ' 

She  hesitated  a  little. 

'  I  daresay  your  opinion  was  correct,  Mr.  Falkirk,  as 
to  the  meaning  as  well  as  the  buzz.  It  is  hardly  worth 
bringing  up  again.' 

If  Mr.  Falkirk  had  any  roughness  in  his  manner  or  in 
his  composition,  he  had  also  and  certainly  a  very  gentle 
side  of  it  for  his  ward.  He  looked  at  her  again  and 
dropped  the  subject.  But  he  had  got  another.  He 
waited  a  little  before  bringing  it  up. 

'  Another  thing  I  heard  confused  my  ideas,  Miss  Ha- 
zel. You  must  not  wonder  at  me ;  you  know,  a  bear 
just  out  of  winter  quarters  might  well  be  astonished  at 
coming  into  a  garden  full  of  crickets,  and  a  little  unable 
to  distinguish  one  song  from  another.  But  it  seemed 
to  me  that  I  heard  something  said — or  alluded  to — about 
your  being  unwillingly  obliged  to  go  home  from  some- 
where. Can  you  give  me  any  explanation  ? ' 

The  pause  was  longer  this  time,  the  colour  unsteady. 
Then  she  put  both  hands  up  to  her  forehead,  pushing 
back  the  dark  rings  of  hair  with  an  impatient  touch,  and 
began,  speaking  low  and  rapidly,  but  straight  to  the  point. 

'  I  was  invited  to  a  garden  party  at  Mrs.  Powder's, 
and  after  I  got  there,  found  out  that  the  invitation  in- 
cluded a  four-in-hand  drive  to  Greenbush.  And  I  went. 
And  Mr.  Rollo  heard  of  my  going,  and  followed  me  there. 


420  WYCH    HAZEL. 

with  Primrose  and  Reo  and  the  carriage,  and  made  me 
come  back. ' — She  had  gone  on,  throwing  in  details,  as 
if  to  prevent  their  being  called  for.  Now  the  scarlet 
flush  with  which  the  last  words  were  spoken  faded  away, 
and  she  sat  silent  and  rather  pale. 

I  suppose  Mr.  Falkirk  had  done  his  breakfast.  If  not, 
he  lost  the  last  part  of  it.  For  as  Wych  Hazel  stopped 
speaking  he  rose  from  the  table  and  began  to  take  turns 
up  and  down  the  room ;  scowling,  it  must  be  confessed, 
as  if  he  would  have  rather  liked  an  excuse  to  '  pitch  into' 
his  co-guardian.  He  said  nothing  for  some  minutes,  and 
it  was  not  necessary ;  his  eyebrows  were  eloquent. 

'  A  four-in-hand  party  ! '  he  said  at  last.  '  Who  got 
it  up  ? ' 

'  Some  of  the  four-in-hand  club. ' 

'  Who  are  they,  Miss  Hazel  ?' 

'  Mr.  May,  Captain  Lancaster,  Dr.  Singleton,  — Ha- 
zel named  over  sundry  other  names  that  were  unknown 
to  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  He's  a  bold  man ! '  said  Mr.  Falkirk,  probably  not 
referring  to  any  member  of  the  club  aforesaid.  '  I  won- 
der at  his  impudence.  But,  my  dear ! — a  four-in-hand 
party,  and  Greenbush  at  night, — that  was  no  sort  of  place 
for  you  to  be !  Do  you  know  how  these  parties  come 
home,  who  go  out  so  bravely  ? ' 

'  I  knew  pretty  well,  sir,  how  my  party  would,'  said  his 
ward. 

'  No  you  didn't.  How  should  you  know  anything 
about  it  ?  The  young  mouse  in  the  fable  thought  the 
cat  was  a  very  fine  gentleman.  Con — found  him  !'  said 
Mr.  Falkirk,  stopping  short,  '  how  did  he  know  ?  Was 
he  at  the  garden  party  at  the  Governor's  ? ' 

'  No,  sir. ' 


HITS    AT    CROQUET.  421 

'  Then  how  did  he  know  where  you  were  ? ' 

'  Mr.  Rollo  seems  to  be  a  man  who  gives  close  atten- 
tion to  his  duties,  sir,' — rather  dryly. 

'  I  was  the  proper  person  to  be  applied  to,'  muttered 
Mr.  Falkirk.  '  I  should  like  to  be  informed  how  this 
came  about  ? ' 

But  Miss  Hazel  not  giving — as  indeed  she  was  in  no 
position  to  give — any  light  on  this  point,  Mr.  Falkirk 
walked  a  little  more,  and  then  brought  up  with  : 

'  Don't  go  again,  my  dear.' 

'  I  am  not  likely  to  go  often  anywhere,  at  such  a  risk  ! ' 
said  Wych  Hazel,  the  tide  beginning  to  overflow  again. — 
'  Poor  little  me  ! '  she  broke  out,  in  a  tone  that  was 
sorrowful  as  well  as  impatient, — 'always  in  charge  of 
two  policemen  !  Why,  you  could  almost  keep  a  convict 
in  order  with  that ! '  Then  in  a  moment  she  sprang  up< 
and  coming  to  her  guardian's  side  laid  her  hand  on  his 
arm.  '  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Falkirk  !  I  did  not  mean 
it  in  any  way  to  hurt  you.' 

'  No,  my  dear,'  said  her  guardian,  gently,  laying  hi-; 
hand  on  hers.  '  I  am  not  hurt.  I  understand,  as  I 
ought,  having  seen  you  twitch  yourself  out  of  leading- 
strings  ever  since  you  were  old  enough  to  go.  It  is 
rather  hard  upon  you.  But  how  came  it  to  your  knowl- 
edge, Hazel  ? '  And  Mr.  Falkirk  looked  grave. 

'  It  came — through  somebody  telling  Mrs.  Coles  what 
was  none  of  her  business,'  said  the  girl,  with  more  energy 
than  exactness  of  wording. 

'Who  did  that?' 

'  I  am  sure  I  don't  know,  sir.  She  talks  as  if  she 
had  known  it  always.' 

'  Like  enough.  And  she  told  you  !  The  whole  story, 
my  dear  ? '  added  Mr.  Falkirk,  gently  and  softly. 


422  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  hope  there  is  nothing  more ! '  said  Hazel,  again 
donning  her  scarlet  in  hot  haste. 

'  Enough  and  too  much! '  muttered  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  Poor 
child  !  So  the  old  guardian  is  better  than  the  young  one> 
my  dear  ? ' 

'  It  used  to  be  supposed,'  said  the  girl,  dancing  off  oui 
of  the  room,  '  that  twice  one  is  two.  But  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  twice  one  is  six ! ' — Which  was  all  the 
satisfaction  Mr.  Falkirk  'ot. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

FRIENDLY  TONGUES. 

YES,  it  was  very  hard  for  her ;  much  harder 
than  any  one  knew  but  herself.  The  joke  was  too 
striking  to  be  passed  by,  even  in  the  case  of  an  ordinary 
person  ;  but  when  it  was  Miss  Kennedy, — heiress,  beauty, 
and  queen  of  favour, — all  tongues  took  it  up.  She  could 
go  nowhere,  wear  nothing,  do  nothing,  without  meeting 
that  one  subject  face  to  face.  Many  things  brought  it 
forward.  Kitty  Fisher  of  course  had  exasperation  in 
her  heart ;  but  there  were  other  (supposably)  gentle 
breasts  where  even  less  lovely  feelings,  of  shorter  names, 
found  lodgment.  Hazel  was  condoled  with,  laughed 
at,  twitted,  by  turns ;  until  even  Mr.  Rollo's  name  in 
the  distance  made  her  shrink.  Mrs.  Coles  had  not 
(apparently)  made  known  the  conditions  upon  which  he 
had  assumed  his  office  ;  but  Wych  Hazel  was  in  daily 
terror  lest  she  would  ;  and  as  people  often  graze  the  truth 
which  yet  they  do  not  know,  so  hardest  of  all  to  bear 
just  now,  were  Kitty  Fisher's  two  new  names  for  her : 
'  the  Duchess,'  and  '  Your  Grace.'  Most  people  indeed 
did  not  know  their  point,  ignorant  of  Prim's  pet  name 
for  Mr.  Rollo  ;  but  Wych  Hazel  needed  no  telling  ;  and 
her  face  was  sometimes  a  thing  to  see. 


424  WYCH    HAZEL. 

That  was  the  worst  of  is ! — it  was  a  thing  to  see.  And 
so,  while  now  and  then  one  of  her  special  gentlemen 
friends  would  interpose,  and  draw  the  strokes  upon  him- 
self ;  yet  her  delicate,  womanly  fencing  was  so  pretty, 
so  novel ;  it  was  such  sport  to  watch  the  little  hands  turn 
off  and  parry  Kitty  Fisher's  rude  thrusts;  that  few 
masculine  hearts  were  unselfish  enough  to  forego  it. 
There  were  actual  wagers  out  as  to  how  long '  the 
Duchess'  could  carry  it  on  without  losing  her  temper  or 
clipping  the  truth  ;  and  how  soon  '  the  Fisher'  would 
get  tired  and  give  it  up.  And  as  for  the  tokens  in  Miss 
Kennedy's  face  sometimes,  who  that  had  once  seen 
them  did  not  watch  to  see  them  again  ?  Other  people 
began  to  take  up  the  new  titles ;  and  Mme.  Lasalle 
made  courtesies  to  '  the  Duchess,'  and  Stuart  Nightin- 
gale and  Mr.  May  bowed  low  before  '  her  Grace,'  entreat- 
ing her  hand  for  the  quadrille  or  the  promenade. 

'  And  some  night  he  will  be  standing  by  and  hear  them 
say  it ! '  thought  Wych  Hazel  to  herself.  What  should 
she  do  ?  Where  should  she  go  ? 

Since  the  talk  on  the  drive  home  from  Mme.  Lasalle's, 
the  girl  had  never  set  foot  in  one  of  the  round  dances. 
Not  that  she  gave  in  to  Mr.  Rollo's  strictures, — how 
could  she  be  mistaken  ? — but  because  the  talk  had  left 
an  unbearable  association  about  everything  that  looked 
like  a  round  dance.  There  was  the  constant  remem- 
brance of  the  words  he  had  spoken, — there  was  the  con- 
stant fear  that  he  might  stand  by  and  think  those 
thoughts  again.  Then  she  had  been  extremely  disgust- 
ed with  Kitty  Fisher's  new  figures  ;  and  so,  on  the  whole, 
in  the  face  of  persuasions  and  charges  of  affectation,  Miss 
Kennedy  could  be  had  for  nothing  but  reels,  country 
dances,  and  quadrilles.  Miss  Fisher  and  her  set  were 


FRIENDLY   TONGUES.  425 

furious,  of  course ;  for  all  the  gentlemen  liked  what 
Miss  Kennedy  liked :  there  was  no  use  talking  about  it. 

If  anybody  had  asked  the  girl  in  those  weeks  before 
the  fancy  ball  what  she  was  doing — and  why  she  wanted 
to  do  it, — she  would  have  found  it  hard  to  tell.  Braving 
out  people's  tongues,  was  one  thing  ;  and  plunging  into 
all  sorts  of  escapades  because  any  day  they  might  be 
forbidden,  was  another.  A  sort  of  wild  resolving  that 
her  young  guardian  should  not  feel  his  power  ;  and  en- 
deavour to  prove  to  him  that  anybody  aspiring  to  that 
office  without  her  leave  asked  and  obtained,  was  likely  to 
serve  a  short  term. 

'  Is  it  only  till  you  marry,  my  dear  ? — or  is  it  for  life  ? ' 
Mme.  Lasalle  said,  meaningly.  And  Hazel  laughed  off 
an  answer,  and  set  her  little  foot  down  (mentally)  with 
tremendous  force.  Wouldn't  she  marry  whom  she  liked 
— if  she  liked  ? 

'  He  proposes  to  make  you  his  wife' — Mrs.  Coles  had 
said.  She  would  like  to  know  what  his  'proposing' had 
to  do  with  it  ? — except,  perhaps,  as  an  initiatory  step. 

It  was  a  new  version  of  Katharine  and  Petruchio, — 
sneered  Kitty  Fisher. 

It  was  a  striking  instance  of  disinterested  benevolence 
— in  so  young  a  man!  chimed  in  Mrs.  Seaton, — until  at 
last  Hazel  rushed  into  anything  that  would  put  a  black 
coat  or  whirl  of  white  muslin  between  her  and  her  tor- 
mentors. If  she  was  in  truth  running  away  from  herself 
as  well,  the  confusion  was  too  great  for  her  to  know  it 
just  then.  The  very  idea  of  stopping  to  think  what  he 
meant  and  what  she  meant,  frightened  her  ;  and  then  she 
ran  faster  than  ever. 

Of  all  this  Rollo  was  but  slightly  aware.  Yet  he  did 
guess  at  part  of  it.  He  had  seen  too  much  of  both  men 


426  WYCH    HAZEL. 

and  women  not  to  know  in  a  measure  what  must  be  the 
natural  effect  of  circumstances.  And  he  would  have 
saved  Miss  Kennedy  the  worst  of  it, — only  he  could  not. 
He  was  sometimes  at  the  entertainments  where  she  met 
so  much  exasperation,  and  saw  from  a  distance  as  it 
were  the  wild  whirl  of  her  gaiety.  Perhaps  he  guessed 
at  the  meaning  of  that  too.  But  he  was  only  a  man,  and 
he  could  not  be  sure.  He  never  asked  her  to  dance 
himself,  and  never  joined  a  quadrille  or  reel  when  she 
was  one  of  the  set.  And  that  is  nearly  tantamount  to 
saying  he  did  not  dance  at  all.  For  reels  and  quadrilles 
were  very  much  out  of  favour,  and  rarely  adopted  except 
just  for  Miss  Kennedy.  And  in  truth  Mr.  Rollo  in  this 
state  of  affairs  chose  to  be  only  now  and  then  seen  at 
evening  entertainments.  When  there  he  was  rather 
Spanish  in  his  manners,  after  the  old  Catskill  fashion. 
Very  Spanish  indeed  Mrs.  Coles  found  him  at  home  ; 
his  lofty  courtesy  kept  her  at  the  extreme  distance  per- 
mitted in  the  grace  of  good  manners. 

Meanwhile,  no  tete-d-tete  conversation  had  been  prac- 
ticable with  Wych  Hazel.  He  had  sought  it ;  but  she 
refused  his  invitations  to  ride,  and  while  she  was  in  that 
mood  he  did  not  choose  either  to  risk  being  turned  away 
again  from  the  Chickaree  door,  or  to  encounter  her  in  a 
drawing-room  full  of  company.  However,  when  a  good 
many  days  had  come  and  gone  in  this  state  of  estrange- 
ment, Rollo  began  to  feel  that  it  was  getting  unbearable. 
So  he  rode  up  to  Chickaree  one  day  just  at  luncheon 
time. 

Miss  Kennedy  was  not  at  home.  Not  at  home  in 
the  honest  sense  of  the  words.  Mr.  Rollo  asked  for 
Mrs.  Bywank,  and  marched  straight  to  the  housekeeper's 
room.  And  Mrs.  Bywank's  greeting  made  him  feel 


FRIENDLY    TONGUES.  427 

that,  for  some  reason,  he  had  come  at  the  right  time. 
She  begged  him  to  sit  down,  and  ordered  luncheon  ; 
asking  if  he  was  in  haste,  or  if  they  might  wait  a  little 
for  Miss  Wych  ? 

'  She  walked  down  to  Mr.  Falkirk's  a  long  time  ago,' 
said  the  housekeeper,  '  but  I  am  looking  for  her  every 
minute.  Unless  you  cannot  wait,  Mr.  Rollo  ?  ' 

He  would  wait ;  and  desired  to  have  Mrs.  Bywank's 
report  touching  the  health  of  her  young  mistress.  Mrs. 
Bywank  looked  perplexed. 

'  She's  not  herself,  sir,'  she  answered  slowly.  'And 
yet  it  would  be  hard  to  explain  that.  I've  been  wanting 
to  see  you,  Mr.  Rollo,  more  than  I  can  say ;  and  now 
you  are  here  I  hardly  know  how  to  tell  why.' 

'  That  makes  me  wish  very  much  you  would  find  out.' 

'  Phoebe  will  have  it  she  is  sick,'  said  the  housekeeper 
pondering, — '  and  sometimes  I  think  so  myself.  I  know 
she  goes  out  too  much.  And  stays  up  too  late.  Why 
the  last  time  she  came  from  Governor  Powder's  I  was 
frightened  half  to  death.' 

*  That  was  two  weeks  ago  ? ' 

'  Yes,  Mr.  Rollo.  I  expected  her  early,  and  then 
Lewis  brought  word  it  would  be  late, — and  so  it  was. 
Near  morning,  in  fact.' 

'  Yes.  Well  ? — She  did  not  suffer  from  being  out  too 
late  ? ' 

'  I'm  suce  I  don't  know,  sir,  what  it  was.  She  walked 
into  the  hall  just  as  strong  and  straight  as  ever,  and 
then  she  dropped  right  down  on  the  first  stair,  and  put 
her  hands  and  face  against  the  balustrade,  and  I  couldn't 
get  one  word  from  her — nor  one  look, — any  more  than 
if  she'd  been  part  of  the  staircase.' 


428  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  For  how  long  ? '  asked  the  gentleman  after  a  short 
pause,  and  in  a  lowered  tone. 

'  It  seemed  a  week  to  me,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank, — '  but 
I  only  know  nothing  stirred  her  till  she  heard  the  servants 
begin  to  move  about  the  house.  And  then  she  got  up, 
in  a  sort  of  slow  way,  so  that  I  thought  she  would  fall. 
And  I  put  my  arm  around  her,  and  she  laid  her  head 
on  my  shoulder,  and  so  we  went  upstairs.  But  she  only 
said  she  was  "very,  very  tired,"  and  didn't  want  any 
breakfast.  I  couldn't  get  another  word  but  that.' 

'  And  since  then  ? ' — said  her  hearer,  after  another 
pause  in  which  he  seemed  to  have  forgotten  himself. 

'  Since  then,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank,  '  there  have  been 
balls  and  picnics  and  dinners  enough  to  take  one's  breath 
away.  But  it  don't  seem  to  me  she  can  enjoy  them  much 
— she  comes  home  so  often  with  a  sort  of  troubled  look 
that  I  can't  understand.  And  when  I  ask  if  she's  not 
well,  she  says,  "  Yes,  very  well."  So  what  is  one  to 
do?' 

'  I  don't  think  you  can  do  anything,  Mrs.  Bywank. 
Perhaps  I  can.  Is  that  all  you  have  to  tell  me  ? ' 

'  Not  quite,  sir,' — but  the  old  housekeeper  hesitated. 
'  I  am  not  sure  about  saying  all  I  wanted  to  say/ 

'  Why  ? '  said  Rollo,  smiling. 

'  It  is  a  nice  matter  for  one  woman  to  talk  about 
another  woman,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank ;  and  again  she 
paused,  evidently  considering  where  care  ended  and 
treason  began.  '  I  am  a  little  uneasy,  sir, — more  than 
a  little, — about  some  of  these  young  men  that  come  here 
so  often.' 

'  On  what  account  ? '  said  Rollo  shortly  and  gravely, 
with  a  tone  that  meant  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  that  at 
least. 


FRIENDLY   TONGUES.  429 

'  Why,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank,  glancing  at  him, '  chiefly  be- 
cause I  think  Miss  Wych  does  not  know  in  the  least  how 
often  they  come.  Which,  if  she  thought  twice  about  any 
one  of  them,  she  would.  And  if  I  just  hint  it  to  her,  she 
looks  at  me  and  says — "  Often  ? — when  was  he  here  be- 
fore ?  I  don't  remember."  All  the  same,  they  don't  un- 
derstand that.' 

'  Well  ?'  said  Rollo.  '  They  are  quite  equal  to  taking 
care  of  themselves.  Tell  me  of  any  danger  to  far.' 

'  It  lies  just  there,  sir.  That  she  might  be  drawn  on 
— in  her  innocence — to  grant  favours  covering  she  knows 
not  what.  And  sometimes  that  works  trouble.  Not 
caring  two  snaps  for  the  men,  it  might  never  occur  to 
her  that  they  were  favours — till  the  cobwebs  were  all 
round  her  feet.  You  know  that,  sir  ? ' 

Her  hearer's  brows  contracted  a  little,  and  the  grey 
eyes  snapped  ;  but  he  was  silent. 

'  Now  here's  this  fancy  ball  at  Moscheloo,'  said  Mrs. 
Bywank, — '  with  all  sorts  of  charades  that  nobody  ought 
to  be  in.' 

'  What  is  that  ?     I  have  not  heard  of  it.' 

'  I  opine  they  have  kept  it  rather  close,'  said  the 
housekeeper, — '  the  day  after  to-morrow  it  comes  off  ;  and 
not  a  soul  let  in  without  a  ticket.  I  hoped  you  might 
have  one,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

'  What  about  the  charades  ? ' 

'  I  don't  like  them,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank  decidedly, — 
'  and  they  want  Miss  Wych  in  every  one.  So  she's  been 
getting  her  dresses  ready,  with  my  help,  and  telling  me 
the  whole  story.  It's  "  Mr.  May  and  I  are  to  do  this," 
— and  "  While  I  stand  so,  Captain  Lancaster  stands  so." 
The  last  of  all  is  a  wedding.' 

'  A  wedding  ! '  Rollo  repeated.  '  Is  she  to  be  in  that  too  ? 


430  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Of  course,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank.  '  And  she  said  she 
tried  ever  so  hard  to  get  a  ticket  for  me — that  I  might 
see  her  dressed  up.  But  Madame  would  not.  So  said 
I,  "  Miss  Wych,  I  would  rather  not  see  you  in  that  dress, 
till  it's  the  real  thing." 

'  "O — take  what  you  can  get,"  she  said,  running  the 
needle  into  her  finger  and  making  a  great  fuss  about  it. 

'  "  My  dear,"  I  said,  "  marriage  is  much  too  sacred 
a  thing,  in  my  judgment,  to  be  turned  into  a  frolic." 

'  "  Well  I  didn't  want  to  do  it,  "  she  said,  a  little  sober  ; 
"  but  Madame  would  not  let  me  off."  ' 

'Well  ? — '  said  Rollo,  with  a  short  breath,  as  the  old 
lady  again  paused. 

'  "  But  Miss  Wych,"  I  said,  "  are  you  to  act  that  with 
Captain  Lancaster  ? " 

'  So  she  flamed  out  at  that,  and  asked  me  if  I  thought 
she  would  ? 

'  "  Well,"  said  I,  "for  my  part,  I  don't  understand  how 
any  young  lady  who  expects  to  be  married  " — but  she 
put  her  hand  right  over  my  mouth. 

' "  Now  Byo,  stop  !  "  she  said.  "  You  know  you  are 
talking  of  me — not  of  other  young  ladies." 

'  "  Who  is  to  be  the  happy  man  in  this  case  ?  "  said  I, 
when  she  would  let  me  speak.  And  she  just  looked  at 
me,  and  wouldn't  answer  a  word.  So  I  went  on.  "  I  sup- 
pose I  may  talk  about  men,  Miss  Wych, —  and  I  say  I 
don't  think  the  right  sort  of  man,  who  meant  some  day 
to  marry  the  right  sort  of  woman,  would  ever  want  to  go 
through  the  motions  with  somebody  else." — She  was 
silent  a  while, —  then  she  looked  up. 

' "  I  wish  I  had  heard  all  this  before,  Byo, — but  it's 
too  late  now,  for  I've  promised.  And  of  course  I  never 


FRIENDLY   TONGUES.  431 

thought  it  all  out  so.  You  know  I've  never  even  seen  a 
wedding.  But  it  is  only  Mr.  Lasalle,  in  this  case  ;  and 
you  know  he  has  '  been  through  the  motions ' " — Mr. 
Lasalle,  truly  ! '  Mrs.  Bywank  repeated  in  great  scorn. 
'  A  likely  thing  ! ' 

'  Going  through  the  motions  ! '  Rollo  repeated.  '  Do 
you  mean  that  the  wedding  ceremnoy  is  to  be  perform- 
ed?' 

'  It  sounds  so,  to  me,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank.  '  "  Well, 
my  dear,"  said  I, — "  then  I  say  this.  No  man  who  has 
been  through  the  motions  in  earnest  with  one  woman, 
ought  to  go  them  over  in  play  with  another." 

'  She  looked  up  again, — one  of  her  pretty,  grave  looks  ; 
and  said  slowly,  as  if  she  was  thinking  out  her  words  : 
"  Maybe  you  are  right,  Byo.  I  never  thought  about  it. 
And  of  course  that  sort  of  man  never  could." 

'  "  What  sort  ?  "  I  said.  "  Then  you  have  thought 
about  it,  Miss  Wych  ?  " — Well,  she  was  like  a  little  fury 
at  that,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank,  smiling  at  the  recollection, 
— '  as  near  as  she  can  ever  come  to  it.  And  she  caught 
up  her  hat  and  went  off  ;  and  called  back  to  me  that 
she  meant  to  go  through  motions  enough  of  some  sort, 
to  be  ready  for  her  lunch  when  she  got  home. — But  I 
wish  she  was  out  of  it,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

Her  hearer  sat  silent  for  a  minute. 

'Mrs.  Bywank,  can  you  find  Miss  Hazel's  ticket  for 
this  ball  ? ' 

'  I  daresay,  sir.  Would  you  like  to  see  it  ? — she  shew- 
ed it  to  me.' 

'  I  would  like  to  see  it  very  much.' 

The  housekeeper  went  off,  and  presently  brought 
back  the  little  perfumed  card,  with  scrolls  and  signa- 
tures, and  'Admit '  and  '  Not  transferable.' 


432  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  She  puts  her  own  name  in  this  place  before  she  gives 
it  in,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank. 

The  gentlemen  looked  at  the  ticket  attentively — then 
bestowed  it  safely  in  his  vest  pocket ;  as  if  that  subject 
was  disposed  of. 

'  But  Mr.  Rollo  ! ' — said  the  housekeeper  in  some  con 
sternation. 

'  What,  Mrs.  Bywank  ? '  he  returned  innocently. 

'  Miss  Wych  will  never  forgive  me,  sir ! ' 

'  What  ? ' 

'  Why — for  stealing  her  ticket  and  giving  it  to  you, 
sir.' 

'  You  have  not  stolen  it.  And  you  never  meant  to 
give  it  to  me.  And  she  is  not  to  know  anything  about 
it.' 

'  It  feels  like  high  treason  ! '  said  Mrs.  Bywank.  '  And 
she  is  certain  to  get  another.  But  I'm  sure  I'd  be  glad 
there  was  some  one  there  to  look  after  things  ;  for  if 
she  once  got  into  that,  and  found  young  Nightingale  01 
some  of  the  rest  with  her,  she'd  be  fit  to  fly.  And  there 
she  comes,  this  minute.' 

As  they  looked,  Wych  Hazel  came  out  from  the  deep 
shadow  of  the  trees  that  clothed  this  end  of  the  garden 
approach ;  faultlessly  dressed  as  usual,  and  with  her 
apron  gathered  up  full  of  flowers  ;  and  herself  not  alone. 
A  young  '  undress  uniform  '  was  by  her  side. 

'Captain  Lancaster,' — said  Mrs.  Bywank. 

They  came  slowly  on,  talking ;  then  stopped  where 
the  road  to  the  main  entrance  branched  off, — the  young 
officer  cap  in  hand,  extremely  deferential.  They  could 
see  his  face  now ;  handsome,  soldierly,  and  sunburnt ; 
with  a  pleasant  laugh  which  came  readily  at  her  words. 
Her  face  they  could  not  see,  beneath  the  broad  garden 


FRIENDLY   TONGUES.  433 

hat.  The  gentleman  touched  his  ungloved  hand  to 
Wych  Hazel's  little  buff  gauntlet ;  then  apparently  pre- 
ferred some  request  which  was  .not  immediately  grant- 
ed ;  so  gestures  seemed  to  say.  Finally  he  held  out  his 
hand  again;  and  she  took  from  her  apron  a  flower  and 
placed  in  it ;  and  it  looked  as  if  fingers  and  flower 
were  taken  together  for  a  second.  It  was  a  pretty  scene  ; 
and  yet  Mrs.  By  wank  sighed.  Then  with  a  profound 
reverence  the  young  officer  moved  away,  and  Wych 
Hazel  entered  the  side  door.  She  came  on  along  the 
passage  singing  ;  trilling  out  the  gay  little  lullaby  by 
virtue  of  which  Mrs.  Bywank  had  long  ago  earned  her 
name. 

'  Byo,  bye  !  baby  bye  ! 
Byo,  bye,  little  baby  ! 
Byo,  byo,  byo,  byo' — 

'Where  are  you,  Byo  dear?'  she  said,  opening  the 
door.  Then  stopped  short  in  undoubted  surprise.  '  Mr. 
Rollo  ! — You  two  ! '  she  said,  looking  from  one  to  the 
other ;  adding  mentally,  '  And  you  have  been  talking 
about  me  ! ' 

It  was  not  just  a  pleased  flush  that  came  :  and  it  was 
with  a  little  needless  straightening  of  herself  up  that 
Wych  Hazel  crossed  the  floor,  and  untying  her  apron  of 
flowers  laid  it  down  on  Mrs.  Bywank's  sofa.  Then  she 
was  the  lady  of  Chickaree  again,  graceful  and  composed. 
She  came  back  and  held  out  her  hand. 

'  I  hope  your  luncheon  is  ready,  Byo  ?'  she  said ;  '  and 
that  you  have  something  very  good  to  reward  Mr.  Rollo 
for  his  long  waiting.  I  had  no  idea  I  was  delaying  any 
one  but  you,  or  I  should  have  made  more  haste.  Mrs. 
Bywank  spoils  me,  Mr.  Rollo,  by  giving  me  just  the 
28 


434  WYCH    HAZEL. 

same  welcome  whether  I  come  early  or  late.     But  I  am 
very  sorry  if  I  have  hindered  you.' 

'  You  have  not  hindered  me,'  he  said  smiling,  and 
giving  her  hand  the  old  sort  of  clasp, — '  except  from 
everything  I  have  tried  to  do,  for  some  time  past.' 

But  that  idea  Miss  Wych  did  not  see  fit  to  take  up. 

'  What  have  I  done,'  he  went  on  audaciously,  '  to  be 
ignored  in  this  fashion  ? ' 

'  Ignored  ! '  she  said,  opening  her  eyes  at  him. 

'  Will  you  substitute  another  word  ? '  said  he,  looking 
for  it  in  the  orbs  so  revealed.  Wych  Hazel  turned  off. 

'Will  you  come  to  luncheon,  sir?'  she  said;  so  ex- 
actly as  if  she  were  speaking  to  Mr.  Falkirk,  that  Mrs. 
Bywank  looked  up  in  mute  amazement. 

But  lunch  was  not  to  have  much  attention,  neverthe- 
less. Dingee  began  a  raid  on  the  housekeeper's  room. 
It  was  : 

'  Mas'  Nightingale,  Missee  Hazel.' 

'  Mas'  May  and — Miss  May,'  ma'am. — ' 

'  Mrs.  Powder,  Missee  Hazel — and  all  de  rest ! '  added 
Dingee.  '  'Spect  dere  ain't  a  livin'  soul  won't  be  there, 
time  I  get  back.  Miss  Fisher,  she  done  ask  for  Mas' 
Rollo.  But  I'se  learnin'  to  tell  the  truf  fustrate. 

'  What  is  the  truth  about  me,  Dingee  ? '  asked  tha 
gentleman.     '  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  it.' 

'  Well,  sir,'  said  Dingee,  '  standing  attention,'  '  she 
'quire  'bout  you.  So  I  say,  "Mas'  Rollo,  he  done  come 
dis  mornin',  sure, — but  my  young  mistiss  she  out.  So 
he  done  gone  straight  away  from  de  door,  ma'am." 
Mighty  glad  she  never  ask  which  way  ! '  added  Dingee 
with  a  chuckle.  Wych  Hazel  held  down  her  head, 
laughing  the  sweet  laugh  which  would  come  now  and 
then,  in  the  worst  of  times. 


FRIENDLY   TONGUES.  435 

'  Run  away,'  she  said,  '  and  say  I  am  coming.  I  must 
go,  Byo — if  Mr.  Rollo  will  excuse  me.  And  as  he  came 
to  see  you,  I  suppose  he  will !' 

But  Mr.  Rollo  went  away  without  his  luncheon,  after 
all. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

FIGURES     AND    FAVOURS. 

r  I  "*HE  very  night  after  this  affair  of  the  ticket,  came 
_L  a  '  German,'  pure  and  simple,  at  one  of  the  far-off 
houses  of  the  neighbourhood.  The  daughters  here  were 
of  Miss  Fisher's  persuasion  ;  and  among  them  they  had 
arranged  the  whole  affair.  This  should  be  a  'German,' 
and  nothing  else.  Kitty  Fisher  was  to  lead,  and 
neither  quadrille  nor  country  dance  would  be  tolerated 
for  a  moment.  Miss  Kennedy  found  on  her  arrival 
that,  for  this  night  at  least,  round  dances  were  para- 
mount :  it  was  such,  or  none.  Well,  she  thought  she 
could  stand  it,  at  first, — there  were  enough  people 
always  ready  to  promenade.  But  this  was  not  an  out- 
door party,  the  night  was  too  cool  to  make  it  even  par- 
tially such  ;  and  to  walk  the  whole  evening  in  the  moon- 
light is  one  thing,  and  in  the  gaslight  quite  another. 
Then  Kitty  Fisher  was  in  a  merciless  mood, — and  Hazel 
could  not  head  her  off  with  flat  denials ;  because, 
though  not  really  under  orders,  she  well  knew  how  much 
Mr.  Rollo  had  to  do  with  what  they  termed  '  her  new 
kink  about  dancing.'  And  even  worse  than  the  open 
charge  that  she  was  afraid  to  disobey,  were  the  covert 
insinuations  that  she  was  anxious  to  please. 


FIGURES    AND    FAVOURS.  437 

Then  (to  tell  the  whole  truth)  she  did  very  much  long 
for  another  flight  among  the  gay  flags  and  ribbands 
which  made  the  German  so  lively, — she  could  not  see  the 
harm  !  Only  she  could  never  have  done  it  with  those 
grey  eyes  looking  on  and  drawing  their  own  false  con- 
clusions about  everybody  and  everything.  But  to-night 
he  was  not  on  hand :  the  guests  had  all  arrived  long 
ago,  and  no  guardian  in  any  shape  among  them.  And  so, 
over  persuaded  by  circumstances,  and  especially  by  Mr. 
Nightingale,  who  made  himself  rather  more  than  a  cir- 
cumstance, Wych  Hazel  gave  him  her  hand  and  went 
forward  to  take  her  place.  Under  pledge,  however,  that 
if  any  one  of  the  new  figures  came  up  she  had  leave  to 
retire.  A  burst  of  applause  and  congratulation  hailed 
her  appearance  ;  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  "she  had  for- 
gotten all  but  the  music  and  the  whirl  of  intoxication. 
Even  partners  sank  into  insignificance,  and  became  only 
so  many  facilities  for  so  much  delight.  Not  so  easily 
could  her  partners  forget  her, — the  girlish  face,  some- 
times grave  with  its  own  enjoyment,  and  then—'  bright 
as  a  constellation!' — declared  Mr.  Simms  ;  the  grace 
of  manner  which  kept  its  distance  well  ;  the  diapho- 
nous  dress  which  floated  around  her  like  a  golden  haze  ; 
the  scarlet  flowers  in  her  hair.  Never  had  she  danced, 
never  looked,  more  thoroughly  herself. 

There  are  times  when  we  get  a  lesson  from  without, — 
there  are  others  when  it  must  come  from  within  ;  and 
Mr.  Rollo,  who  had  given  the  first,  was  now  to  see  his 
work  finished  by  the  second.  Wych  Hazel  was  wrong, 
he  was  there  ;  but  he  had  come  late,  and  if  any  of  the 
dancers  saw  him  they  kept  it  hush  ;  so  that  he  looked 
on  at  his  ward  without  her  knowledge.  But  it  must  be 


438  WYCH    HAZEL. 

noted  as  an  instance  of  the  perversity  of  Mr.  R  olio's 
mind,  that  the  more  thoroughly  he  perceived  the  differ- 
ence between  Wych  Hazel  and  her  companions,  the  less 
he  liked  to  have  her  among  them ;  and  every  point  in  the 
dance  where  she  escaped  without  even  a  touch  upon  her 
modest  bearing,  as  if  truly  no  one  dared  take  liberties  with 
her,  made  him  half  wild  to  get  her  out  of  it  altogether. 

Thus  thinking  and  watching,  Mr.  Rollo  saw  two 
strange  things  take  place.  First  came  this  : 

A  new  figure  was  called,  and  the  partners  were  to  be 
sorted  by  means  of  long  streamers  of  different-coloured 
ribbands.  Wych  Hazel,  having  already  received  hers,  a 
green,  stood  drawing  it  through  her  fingers  and  chatting 
with  Josephine  Powder,  whose  ribband  was  blue.  Sud- 
denly Miss  Kennedy  caught  away  the  blue  ribband  and 
began  to  compare  its  length  with  that  of  her  own ;  mea- 
suring and  re-measuring,  tangling  the  long  ends  up 
together  ;  until  as  the  gentlemen  came  up  to  match 
colours  and  claim  their  partners,  Wych  Hazel  hurriedly 
put  the  green  streamer  in  Josephine's  hand,  and  went 
off  with  Captain  Lancaster.  The  green  and  blue  were 
such  convertible  colours  in  the  gaslight  that  no  one  took 
any  notice.  But  Rollo  saw  that  Wych  Hazel  drew  a 
long  breath  as  she  moved  away,  and  looked  down,  and 
did  not  say  much  for  several  minutes.  That  figure  passed 
off  with  nothing  unusual. 

Then  followed  another,  during  which  the  couples  were 
arranged  in  a  sort  of  haphazard  way ;  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  drawing  up  in  two  long  opposite  lines,  each 
then  to  take  his  vis-a-vis.  But  where  a  lady  was  in  great 
demand,  the  gentleman  not  strictly  opposite  would  some- 
times press  down  and  forward,  trying  to  catch  her  eye, 
and  prove  himself  her  partner  by  mere  right  of  posses- 


FIGURES   AND    FAVOURS.  439 

sion.  The  line  of  men  stood  with  their  backs  towards 
Mr.  Rollo,  so  that  he  did  not  at  first  see  who  it  was 
that  started  forward  so  eagerly,  taking  a  fair  diagonal 
towards  Miss  Kennedy.  But  he  saw  her  change  colour, 
with  a  sort  of  frightened  look,  and  then — most  unlike 
her  usual  shy  bearing, — saw  her  turn  the  other  way,  and 
herself  take  a  diagonal  towards  what  proved  in  this  in- 
stance to  be  Mr.  May.  With  a  great  flush  of  crimson 
at  first,  and  then  growing  and  remaining  very  pale,  and 
dancing  very  languidly.  And  then,  at  the  foot  of  the 
room,  her  eyes  met  those  of  her  young  guardian, — which 
about  finished  up  the  evening.  For  twice  that  night  Wych 
Hazel  had  been  within  a  hair'sbreadth  of  having  her 
hand  taken  by  the  very  man  from  whose  presence  she 
had  escaped  that  night  in  July.  To  get  rid  of  him  she 
had  put  herself  off  on  somebody  else,  and  Mr.  Rollo 
had  seen  it  all ! 

'  Put  Molly  Seaton  in  my  place,  Josephine,'  she 
whispered,  '  Mr.  May  is  going  to  excuse  me.' 

But  they  crowded  round  her  and  insisted  upon  'just 
one  more.'  She  should  not  finish  this  figure  if  she  dis- 
liked it, — they  would  stop  it  short :  anything  to  keep 
Miss  Kennedy  on  the  floor!  Would  she  dance  '  Le 
Verre  de  Vin '  ? 

'  Never ! ' — with  sudden  energy. 

'  My  gracious  me  ! — how  spiteful  we  are  ! '  said  Kitty 
Fisher.  *  You  wouldn't  have  to  drink  it.  Well,  then, 
"  La  Poursuite  "  ? ' 

Miss  Kennedy  hated  '  La  Poursuite.' 

'  And — for  Miss  Kennedy — it  is  such  breathless  work,' 
said  Mr.  Kingsland. 

'  And — for  Mr.  Kingsland — etcetera,  etcetera — said 
Kitty  mockingly.  '  Stephen,  when  there  is  an  opportuni- 


440  WYCH   HAZEL. 

ty  for  remarks,  I'll  let  you  know.  "  La  Poursuite  "  is 
just  the  thing.  You  see,  Hazel,'  she  whispered,  '  the 
Viking  can  rush  in  and  reclaim  his  prize,  and  reconcilia- 
tions take  place  in  the  final  tour.' 

'  I  shall  not  dance  it,  Kitty,'  said  Wych  Hazel  steadi- 
ly, though  her  cheeks  glowed. 

'  No  ? '  said  Miss  Fisher.  <  Not  to  the  tune  of  "  The 
king  shall  enjoy  his  own  again  "  ?  Well — what  of  "  Les 
Mains  Mysterieuses  "  ? ' 

'  /protest,  now,'  said  Captain  Lancaster.  '  There  can- 
not be  even  a  pretence  of  mystery  about  Miss  Kennedy's 
hand.  It  is  the  merest  farce.' 

'  O,  you'd  like  "  Le  Coussin,"  and  a  chance  to  go 
down  on  your  knees  ! '  said  Miss  Fisher,  slightly  provok- 
ed. 

'  Pardon  me  ! '  said  Captain  Lancaster.  '  When  I 
go  down  on  my  knees  to  Miss  Kennedy,  I  shall  want  no 
cushion.' 

'  Good ! '  said  Miss  Burr. 

'I  vow,'  said  Kitty  Fisher,  'you're  a  lover  worth  hav- 
ing. But  the  pretty  dear'll  get  spoiled  among  you.  Come 
— what  will  she  choose  ?  "  Le  Miroir  !  "  Nothing  to  do 
but  look  at  her  own  sweet  self.  Run  away,  Duchess, 
and  take  your  seat.' 

'  Rather  stupid,  I  think,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  as  she 
went  unwillingly  forward, — but  she  was  getting  wild, 
standing  there !  '  I  think  I  shall  take  the  first  one  that 
comes,  and  save  trouble.' 

She  sat  down  in  front  of  the  long  mirror,  in  which  she 
could  see  the  whole  room  behind  her :  everybody  in  it, 
and  every  motion  of  everybody.  But  she  really  saw  but 
one  person,  and  he  was  motionless.  Others,  gazing  in, 
had  a  marvellous  pretty  picture  of  golden  gauze  and 


FIGURES    AND    FAVOURS.  441 

scarlet  flowers,  and  a  fair  young  face  from  which  the 
gaiety  had  suddenly  died  out.  The  breast  of  her  dress 
was  covered  with  '  favours  ;'  basket  and  ring,  bell  and 
bouquet,  a  flag,  a  rosette,  a  pair  of  gloves, — Rollo  could 
not  identify  all  the  details  of  the  harlequin  crew  ;  but  it 
looked  as  if  Miss  Kennedy  had  been  chosen  by  every- 
body, every  time  !  She  sat  still  enough  now. 

'  Look  up,  child  !  '  cried  Miss  Fisher.  '  How  do  you 
expect  to  know  who's  behind  you,  if  you  sit  studying 
your  pretty  feet  upon  the  floor  ?  You  may  flirt  away  an 
angel,  and  welcome  some  gentleman  in  black  who  was 
not  invited.' 

There  was  a  laugh  at  this  sally  ;  and  as  several  gen- 
tlemen sprang  eagerly  forward,  Kitty  began  to  hum — 
'  "  This  is  the  maiden  all  forlorn," ' — but  for  once  Hazel 
did  not  listen. 

'  Flirt  somebody  away  ! '  she  was  thinking, — '  I  should 
like  to  see  myself  doing  it  !  I  shall  take  the  very  first 
that  comes.' 

But  alas  for  good  intentions  in  a  bad  place !  The 
room  was  long,  and  some  people  were  further  off,  and 
others  close  at  hand,  and  the  very  first  that  looked  over 
her  chair  was  Mr.  Morton  !  Hazel  gare  a  toss  of  her 
handkerchief  that  half  blew  him  away.  And  the  next 
--yes,  the  very  next,  was  the  man  whom  she  had  been 
eluding  all  the  evening.  This  time  the  hand  moved 
more  languidly,  and  her  eyes  never  looked  up,  and  her 
cheeks  rivalled  the  scarlet  flowers. 

'  She'll  learn, — O,  she'll  learn  ! '  cried  Kitty  Fisher. 
•'  Never  saw  it  better  done  in  my  life.  Such  a  discrim- 
inating touch ! ' 

'  Is  there  anybody  else  to  escape  ? '  thought  poor  Ha- 
zel, her  breath  coming  quick.  And  then  she  was  so  de- 


442  WYCH    HAZEL. 

lighted  to  see  Captain  Lancaster's  pleasant  face,  that  she 
shewed  it  in  her  own;  and  the  gentleman  took  an 
amount  of  encouragement  therefrom  which  by  no  means 
belonged  to  him.  He  waited  upon  Miss  Kennedy  for  the 
rest  of  that  evening  with  a  devotion  which  everybody 
saw  except  herself.  No  such  trifles  as  a  man's  devotion 
got  even  a  passing  notice  from  her.  Foi  the  girl  was 
feeling  desperate.  How  many  times  that  night  had  she 
been  betrayed  into  what  she  disliked  and  despised  and 
had  said  she  never  would  do  ?  If  Rollo  had  not  been 
there,  perhaps  she  would  have  felt  only  shame, — as  it 
was,  for  the  time  it  made  her  reckless.  '  Le  Miroir ' 
gave  place  to  other  figures,  and  still  Miss  Kennedy 
shewed  no  second  wish  to  retire  and  join  the  lookers-on. 
But  every  time  the  demands  of  the  dance  made  her  choose 
a  partner — when  it  was  her  woman's  right  to  be  chosen  ! 
— every  time  she  was  passed  rapidly  from  hand  to  hand 
without  even  the  poor  power  of  choice,  Wych  Hazel 
avenged  it  on  herself  by  the  sharpest  siient  comments  ; 
while  to  her  partners,  she  was  proud,  and  reserved,  and 
brilliant,  and  generally  '  touch-me-not ; '  until  they  too 
were  desperate — with  admiration. 

If  Rollo  was  half  wild  in  secret  he  had  the  power  to 
keep  it  to  himself.  His  demeanour  was  composed,  and 
not  abstracted  ;  his  attentions  to  others,  when  occasion 
was,  for  he  did  not  seek  it,  as  gracefully  rendered  as 
usual ;  he  even  talked  ;  though  through  it  all  it  is  safe 
to  say  he  lost  nothing  of  what  Wych  Hazel  was  doing. 
Nobody  would  have  guessed,  not  in  the  secret,  that  he 
had  any  particular  attraction  in  that  room,  or  indeed 
anywhere!  He  did  not  approach  Wych  Hazel  to  oblige 
her  to  notice  him ;  he  would  not  give  her  the  additional 
annoyance  or  himself  the  useless  pain. 


FIGURES    AND    FAVOURS  443 

Yet,  though  severely  tried  that  night,  he  was  not  un- 
reasonably discouraged.  He  partly  read  Wych  Hazel  ; 
or  he  surmised  what  was  at  the  bottom  of  her  wild 
gaiety ;  and  he  had  a  great  tenderness  for  her.  A  ten- 
derness that  made  him  grave  at  heart  and  somewhat 
grave  outwardly ;  but  he  did  not  despair,  and  he  bided 
his  time.  He  was  not  irritated  that  she  had  broken  the 
bonds  of  his  words,  amidst  all  his  profound  vexation. 
He  had  heard  enough  of  people's  tongues,  and  also 
knew  enough  of  her,  to  understand  pretty  well  how  it 
was.  He  would  not  even  look  another  remonstrance 
that  night ;  only,  he  resolved  to  stay  out  the  evening  and 
at  least  see  the  girl  safe  in  her  carriage  to  go  home. 
He  would  not  go  with  her  either  this  time. 

'  Hazel,'  whispered  Miss  Fisher,  in  one  of  the  figure 
pauses,  '  slip  out  quietly  at  the  side  door  when  the  break- 
up begins,  and  we'll  have  a  lark.  Stuart  says  he'll 
drive  me  home,  if  I'll  coax  you  to  go  along.  You  can 
stay  with  me  to-night.  We'll  go  a  little  before  every- 
body, you  know,'  she  added  persuasively,  for  Hazel  hesi- 
tated. 'And  the  Duke  need  never  know.' 

Still  Hazel  was  silent,  balancing  alternatives.  Could 
she  bear  a  tete -a-tete  drive  home  with  him  ?  Could  she 
escape  it  in  any  other  way? — She  gave  Kitty  Fisher  a 
little  nod,  and  whirled  off  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  May. 

But  '  Duke  '  was  nearer  than  they  knew,  and  specially 
observant  of  Kitty  Fisher's  doings.  He  was  not  near 
enough  to  catch  the  import  of  the  question  or  proposal ; 
but  his  quick  ears  heard  '  side  door  ' — and  his  eyes  saw 
that  Hazel's  sign  was  of  assent ;  and  his  wits  guessed  at 
the  meaning  of  both.  A  moment's  reflection  made  him 
certain  of  his  conclusion. 

Dane  bit  his  lip  at  the  first  flash  of  this  conclusion. 


444  WYCH    HAZEL. 

He  saw  before  him  again  a  task  which  he  would  have 
given  a  great  deal  to  be  spared.  Both  from  tenderness 
and  from  policy  he  was  exceeding  unwilling  to  thwart 
Wych  Hazel  now,  most  of  all  in  this  company,  thereby 
subjecting  her  to  renewed  annoyance,  inevitable  and 
galling.  Yet  he  never  hesitated  ;  and  his  old  hunter's 
instinct  abode  with  him,  that  no  step  which  must  be 
taken  is  on  the  whole  a  bad  step.  He  left  the  room  be- 
fore the  dance  was  finished,  and  was  in  the  lobby  when 
the  party  he  waited  for  came  down  the  broad  staircase, 
ready  for  their  drive.  He  did  not  present  himself,  but 
when  Wych  Hazel  had  followed  Kitty  Fisher  out  of  the 
side  door,  before  which  Stuart's  equipage  stood  ready, 
she  heard  a  very  low  voice  at  her  side,  which  low  as  it 
was  she  knew  very  well. 

'  Miss  Hazel,  your  carriage  is  at  the  other  door.' 

But  Kitty  Fisher  saw,  if  she  did  not  hear, 

'  No  room  for  you,'  she  said.  '  Much  as  ever  to  get 
me  in.  Good  night,  Sir  Duke,  and  pleasant  dreams. 
The  pleasant  realities  are  all  bespoke.' 

'  Miss  Kennedy — '  low  at  Wych  Hazel's  side. 

'One  of  the  aforesaid  pleasant  realities,' said  Kitty, 
with  her  hand  on  Wych  Hazel's  shoulder.  '  Come, 
Duchess ! ' 

Hazel's  words  had  been  all  ready,  but  at  this  speech 
they  died  away.  It  seemed  to  her  as  if  her  cheeks  must 
light  up  the  darkness  ! 

'Your  carriage  is  in  waiting,'  Rollo  went  on,  in 
a  calm  low  tone,  which  ignored  Kitty  and  everybody 
else. 

Still  no  word. 

'Now  come!'  said  Miss  Fisher — 'don't  you  play 
tyrant  yet  awhile.  She's  going  home  with  me.  Poor 


FIGURES    AND    FAVOURS.  445 

little  Duchess ! — daresn't  say  her  soul's  her  own ! 
What's  the  matter  ? — didn't  she  ask  you  pretty  ?  ' 

There  was  no  answer  to  this.  Rollo  did  not  honour 
her  with  any  attention.  Hazel  freed  her  shoulder  from 
Miss  Fisher's  hand,  and  turned  short  about. 

'There  is  no  use  contesting  things,'  she  said,  speaking 
with  an  effort  which  made  the  words  sound  hard- 
edged  and  abrupt.  '  I  shall  drive  home  by  myself  to 
Chickaree.  Good-night.'  And  without  a  look  right  or 
left,  she  went  up  the  steps  and  across  the  hall  into  the 
carriage  at  the  other  door. 

Rollo  saw  her  in  without  a  word,  and  turned  away. 

And  Miss  Kennedy, — as  if  her  spite  against  some- 
thing or  somebody  was  not  yet  appeased, — began  de- 
liberately, one  by  one,  to  take  the  '  favours  '  off  her 
dress  and  drop  them  through  the  open  carriage  window 
upon  the  road.  But,  let  me  say,  she  was  not  (like 
Quickear)  laying  a  clue  for  herself,  by  which  to  find  her 
way  back  to  the  '  German.'  Never  again. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  RUNAWAY. 

THE  fancy  ball  at  Moscheloo  was  a  brilliant  affair. 
More  brilliant  perhaps  than  in  the  crush  and  mixed 
confusion  of  city  society  could  have  been  achieved.  It  is 
a  great  thing  to  have  room  for  display.  There  were 
people  enough,  not  too  many ;  and  almost  all  of  them 
knew  their  business.  So  there  was  good  dressing  and 
capital  acting.  The  evening  would  have  been  a  success, 
even  without  the  charades  on  which  Mme.  Lasalle  laid 
so  much  stress. 

Dominoes  were  worn  for  the  greater  amusement ;  and 
of  course  curiosity  was  busy  ;  but  more  than  curiosity.  In 
the  incongruous  fashion  common  to  such  entertainments, 
a  handsome  Turkish  janissary  drew  up  to  a  figure  draped 
in  dark  serge  and  with  her  whole  person  enveloped  in  a 
shapeless  mantle  of  the  same,  which  was  drawn  over  her 
head  and  face. 

'  I  have  been  puzzling  myself  for  the  last  quarter  of 
an  hour,'  said  he,  'to  find  out — not  who — but  what  you 
are.' 

*  Been  successful  ?'  said  the  witch. 

*  I  confess,  no.     Of  course  you  will  not  tell  me  leho 
you  are  ;  but  I  beg,  who  do  you  pretend  to  be  ? ' 


THE    RUNAWAY. 


447 


'  O,  pretend  ! '  said  the  witch.  I  am  "a  woman  that 
hath  a  familiar  spirit !  "  ' 

'  Where  did  you  pick  up  your  attendant  ? ' 

'  Came  at  my  call.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of 
Endor  ? ' 

'Have  I?  En — dor?  Where  have  I  heard  that 
name  ?  It  is  no  place  about  here.  'Pon  my  honour,  I 
forget.' 

'  In  the  East  ? '  suggested  the  witch. 

'  Stupid  ! — I  know ;  you  are  the  very  person  I  want  to 
see.  But  first  I  wish  you  would  resolve  an  old  puzzle 
of  mine — Did  you  bring  up  Samuel,  honestly  ? — or  was 
it  al!  smoke  ? ' 

'  Smoke  proves  fire.' 

'  Samuel  would  not  have  been  in  the  fire.' 

'  He  would  if  it  was  necessary,'  said  the  witch.  '  Whom 
do  you  want  brought  up,  Mr.  Nightingale  ? ' 

'  Ha  ! '  said  the  janissary.  '  How  do  you  know  that  ? 
But  perhaps  you  are  "  familiar  "  with  everybody.  Bring 
up  Miss  Kennedy ! ' 

'  Very  well,'  said  the  witch,  beginning  to  walk  slowly 
round  him.  '  But  as  it  is  not  certain  that  Saul  saw  Sam- 
uel, I  suppose  it  will  not  matter  whether  you  see  her  ? ' 

'  It  matters  the  whole  of  it !  I  want  to  see  her  of 
course.  There  is  nobody  else,  in  fact,  whom  I  want  to 
see  ;  nor  anybody  else  worth  seeing  after  her.  The  rarest, 
brightest,  most  distracting  vision  that  has  ever  been  seen 
west  of  your  place.' 

'  If  there  is  nobody  worth  seeing  after,  you  had  better 
see  everybody  else  first,'  said  the  witch,  pausing  in  her 
round. 

'  You  have  a  familiar  spirit.  Tell  me  what  she  thinks 
about  me  ;  will  you  ? ' 


448  WYCH    HAZEL. 

The  witch  threw  up  a  handful  of  sweet  pungent  dust 
into  the  air,  and  made  another  slow  round  about  the  jan- 
issary. 

'  Neither  black  nor  white,' —  she  said  oracularly ; 
'neither  yellow  nor  blue ;  neither  pea-green  nor  delicate 
mouse-grey.' 

'  I  ? '  said  Stuart.     '  Or  what  ? ' 

'  Either.     Both.' 

The  janissary  laughed  somewhat  uneasily.  Just  then 
a  knight,  extremely  well  got  up  in  the  habiliments  of  the 
i3th  century,  stepped  near  and  accosted  the  witch  in  a 
confidential  tone. 

'  Everybody  here,  I  suppose,  is  known  to  you.  Pray 
who  is  that  very  handsome,  very  decollerte,  lady  from  the 
court  of  Charles  the  Second  ?  Upon  my  word  !  she  does 
it  well.' 

'  That  is  Miss  Fisher.' 

<  Well,  if  women  knew ! '  —  said  the  knight  slowly. 
It  was  evident  he  thought  himself  speaking  to  safe 
ears,  probably  not  handsome  enough  to  be  displayed. 
'  If  they  knew  ! '  he  repeated.  '  Does  she  not  do  it 
well?' 

1  Does  she  ? '  said  the  witch.  '  I  was  not  in  England 
just  then.' 

'  Don't  you  wish  you  had  been  !  It's  a  very  fair  show,' 
— continued  the  knight  as  he  looked.  '  We  ought  to  be 
much  obliged  to  the  lady.  Really,  she  leaves — nothing 
— to  be  desired  !  If  you  please,  merely  as  a  subject  of 
curiosity,  from  what  part  of  the  world  and  time  does  yon- 
der figure  come  ?  the  broad-brimmed  hat  ? ' 

The  figure  was  a  very  fine  one,  by  the  way.  His  dress 
was  a  quaintly-cut  suit  of  dark  blue  cloth,  the  edges 
bound  with  crimson,  and  fastened  with  silver  buttons. 


THE    RUNAWAY.  449 

White  fine  thread  stockings  were  tied  at  the  knee  with 
crimson  riband,  and  silver  buckles  were  in  his  shoes. 

'  You  must  know,'  said  the  witch,  '  that  there  are  sev- 
eral parts  of  the  world  from  which  I  have  been  banished.' 

'  In  an  aesthetic  point  of  view,  I  should  say  the  edict 
was  justified,'  returned  the  knight,  surveying  the  bale  of 
brown  serge  before  him.  He  passed  on,  and  the  man 
in  the  blue  cloth  presently  took  his  place. 

'  They  tell  me  you  are  a  witch,'  said  he,  speaking  in 
rather  a  low  tone ;  '  and  as  you  see,  I  am  a  countryman. 
Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  explain  to  me — I  suppose 
you  understand  it — what  all  these  people  are  ? ' 

'  They  are  people  who  for  the  present  find  their  hap- 
piness in  being  other  people,'  said  the  witch,  with  a 
grave  voice,  in  which  however  a  laugh  was  somewhat 
imperfectly  muffled.  '  Like  yourself,  sir.' 

'  Like  me  ?  Quite  the  contrary.  I  was  never  more 
myself,  I  assure  you.  For  that  very  reason  I  find  myself 
not  at  home.  Excuse  my  curiosity.  Why,  if  you  please, 
do  they  seek  their  happiness  out  of  themselves,  as  it 
were,  in  this  way  ? ' 

'  Well,'  said  the  witch  confidentially,  '  to  tell  you  the 
truth,  /  don't  know.  You  see  I  am  in  your  predicament} 
and  was  never  more  myself.' 

'  But  I  thought  you  had  a  familiar  spirit  ?  I  have  read 
so  much  as  that.' 

'  At  your  service' — said  the  witch. 

'  Then  be  so  good  as  to  enlighten  me.  I  see  a  moving 
kaleidoscope  view  of  figures — it's  very  pretty — but  why 
are  they  all  here  ? ' 

'  Some  because  they  were  invited,'  said  the  witch  crit- 
ically.   '  And  doubtless  some  because  others  were.    And 
a  good  many  for  fun  — and  a  few  for  mischief.' 
29 


450  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Is  it  the  custom  in  this  country  to  make  mischief  one 
of  the  pleasures  of  society  ? ' 

'  Yes  ! '  said  the  witch  with  some  emphasis.  'And  to 
tell  you  the  truth  again,  that  is  just  one  of  the  points  in 
which  society  might  be  improved.' 

'  But  how  do  fun  and  mischief  go  along  together  ? ' 

'  Well,  that  depends,'  said  the  witch.  '  The  wrong 
sort  of  mischief  spoils  the  right  sort  of  fun.' 

'And  does  that  often  happen,  among  such  well-dressed 
people  as  these  ? ' 

'  O,  where  is  her  Grace  ? ' — cried  a  gay  voice  in  the 
distance.  '  I've  sworn  to  find  her.' 

The  witch  was  silent  a  moment,  then  answered  slowly, 
( It  happens — quite  often.' 

'  Can  people  find  nothing  pleasanter  to  do  with  their 
time,'  said  the  countryman,  '  than  to  spend  it  in  mischief  ? 
or  in  fun  which  the  mischief  spoils  ?  These  things  you 
tell  me  sound  very  strange  in  my  ears.' 

'The  right  sort  of  mischief  is  fun, — and  the  right  sort 
of  fun  is  not  mischief,'  she  said  impatiently.  'And  what 
people  find  in  the  wrong  sorts,  I  don't  know  ! ' 

{  By  the  way,'  said  the  countryman,  '  how  come  you  to 
be  here  ?  How  did  you  escape,  when  Saul  killed  all  the 
rest  of  the  witches  ? ' 

'It  is  queer,  isn't  it  ? '  she  said.  'Wouldn't  you  have 
supposed  I  should  be  the  first  one  to  fall  ? ' 

'  And  in  this  country,  are  you  using  your  experience  to 
make  or  to  mend  mischief  ? ' 

'  Make  all  I  can !  Are  there  any  Sauls  on  hand,  do 
you  think  ? ' 

'  Pray,  what  sort  of  man  would  you  characterize  by 
that  name  ? ' 

'  Well,'  said  she  of  Endor  with  again  the  hidden  laugh 


THE   RUNAWAY.  451 

in  her  voice,  'some  men  have  a  hidden  weakness  for 
witches  which  conflicts  with  their  duty, — and  some  men 
don't!' 

'I  hope  I  am  not  a  Saul,  then,'  said  the  countryman 
laughing,  though  softly;  'but  in  any  case  you  are  safe 
to  take  my  arm  for  a  walk  round  the  rooms.  I  should 
like  to  see  all  that  is  to  be  seen  ;  and  perhaps  you  could 
help  me  to  understand.' 

It  was  not  a  more  incongruous  pair  than  were  to  be 
seen  in  many  parts  of  the  assembly.  The  beauty  of 
Charles  the  Second's  court  was  flirting  with  Rob  Roy  ; 
a  lady  in  the  wonderful  ruff  of  Elizabeth's  time  talked 
with  a  Roman  toga ;  a  Franciscan  monk  with  bare  feet 
gesticulated  in  front  of  a  Swiss  maiden  ;  as  the  Witch 
of  Endor  sauntered  through  the  rooms  on  the  arm  of 
nobody  knew  exactly  what  countryman. 

'  Your  prejudices  must  be  very  often  shocked  here,' 
said  the  countryman  with  a  smothered  tone  of  laughter 
again.  '  Or,  I  beg  pardon  ! — has  a  witch  any  prejudices, 
seeing  she  can  have  no  gravity  ? ' 

'What  does  prejudice  mean  in  your  country?' 

'  Much  the  same,  I  am  afraid,  that  it  does  elsewhere. 
What  are  we  coming  to  ? ' 

Passing  slowly  through  the  rooms,  they  had  arrived 
at  the  great  saloon,  at  one  end  of  which  large  folding 
doors  opened  into  another  and  smaller  apartment.  This 
smaller  room  was  hung  with  green  baize  ;  candelabra 
shed  gentle  light  upon  it  from  within  the  doors,  so  placed 
as  not  to  be  seen  from  the  principal  room  ;  and  over  the 
folding  doors  was  hung  a  thick  red  curtain  ;  rolled  up 
now. 

'  What  is  all  this  ? ' 


45 2  .     WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  O,  if  you  wait  a  while,'  said  the  witch,  '  you  will  see 
further  transformations — that  is  all.' 

'  And  what  is  this  for  ? '  said  the  countryman,  pointing 
to  the  rolled-up  red  curtain. 

'To  hide  the  transformed,  till  they  are  ready  to  be 
seen.' 

'  But  it  does  not  hide  anything,'  said  the  countryman 
obtusely.  '  How  do  they  get  it  down  ? ' 

He  went  examining  about  the  door-posts,  with  un- 
doubted curiosity,  till  he  found  the  mechanism  attached 
to  the  curtain  and  touched  the  spring.  Down  fell  the 
red  folds  in  an  instant.  The  man  drew  it  up  again,  and 
let  it  fall  again,  and  again  drew  it  up. 

'  Very  good,'  he  said  approvingly.  '  Very  good.  We 
have  no  such  clever  curtains  in  my  country.  That  will 
do  very  well.' 

As  he  spoke,  a  bell  sounded  through  the  house.  Im- 
mediately the  witch  escaped  by  a  side  door.  Two  or 
three  others  followed  her ;  and  then  the  rest  of  the 
company  began  to  pour  in  and  fill  the  saloon  before  the 
red  curtain. 

'  Well,  I  never  was  so  stupid  in  all  my  life  ! '  said  the 
court  beauty.  '  I  might  have  known  no  other  girl  would 
come  as  a  roll  of  serge  ! ' 

'And  I  might  have  known,  that  if  I  failed  to  recognize 
Miss  Kennedy's  hand,  it  could  be  only  because  it  was 
out  of  sight,'  said  Mr.  Kingsland,  who  by  special  favour 
wore  only  his  own  face  and  dress. 

'  You'll  get  a  mitten  from  her  hand — and  a  slap  in  it, 
if  you  don't  look  out,'  said  the  lady. 

'  Better  a  mitten  from  that  hand  than  a  glove  from 
any  other,'  replied  Mr.  Kingsland  with  resignation. 


THE   RUNAWAY.  453 

*  Easier  for  you  to  get,'  the  beauty  retorted.  But  did 
you  hear  of  the  fun  we  had  the  other  night  ? — the  best 
joke  !  We  all  put  Seaton  up  to  it,  and  he  carried  it  off  well. 
Dick  wouldn't.  Before  the  dancing  began,  he  went  up 
to  Miss  Kennedy  and  asked  her  with  his.  gravest  face 
whether  she  felt  guardian's  orders  to  be  binding  ?  And 
she  coloured  all  up,  like  a  child  as  she  is,  and  inquired 
who  wanted  to  know  ?  So  Seaton  bowed  down  to  the 
ground  almost,  and  said  he — 

' "  I  had  the  honour  of  asking  Mr.  Rollo  this  afternoon, 
concerning  the  drive  we  spoke  of;  and  he  gave  me  an 
emphatic  no.  And  now  I  am  come  to  you  to  reverse  the 
decision." 

'  Well,  you  should  have  seen  her  face  ! — and  "  What 
did  he  say,  Major  Seaton  ?  "  she  asked.  "  As  near  as  I 
can  remember,"  said  Seaton  with  another  bow,  "he  said, 
Sir,  I  cannot  possibly  allow  Miss  Kennedy  to  take  any 
such  drive  as  you  propose  !  " 

'  Well  ? — '  said  Mr.  Kingsland, — '  I  have  heavy  wagers 
out  on  Miss  Kennedy's  dignity.' 

'  I  don't  know  what  you  call  dignity,'  said  the  beauty, 
— '  I  didn't  know  at  first  but  she  would  knock  him  down 
for  his  information, — she  did,  with  her  eyes.  And  then 
my  lady  Duchess  drew  herself  up  as  grand  as  could  be, 
and  answered  just  as  if  she  didn't  care  a  snap, — u  Did 
Mr.  Rollo  say  that,  Major  Seaton  ?  Then  I  certainly 
shall  not  go." ' 

Mr.  Kingsland  clapped  his  hands  softly.  '  Safe  yet,' 
he  said.  '  But  where  did  Kitty  pick  up  that  name  for 
her  ? '  he  added,  turning  to  his  next  neighbour.  '  You 
are  in  the  way  of  such  titles.' 

'  Kitty  won't  tell,'  the  lady  answered,  an  elaborate 
Queen  Elizabeth.  '  Not  at  present.  She  found  out  no- 


454  WYCH    HAZEL. 

body  understood,  but  Miss  Kennedy  does,  so  now  she 
holds  it  over  Miss  Kennedy's  head  that  she  will  tell. 
That  is  the  way  she  got  her  before  the  glass  the  other 
night.' 

'  The  tenderness  these  gentle  creatures  have  for  each 
other ! '  said  Mr.  Kingsland. 

Meantime  a  bustling  crowd  had  been  pouring  in  and 
filling  the  saloon,  and  there  began  to  be  a  cry  for  silence. 
The  curtain  was  down  ;  by  whom  dropped  no  one  knew  • 
but  now  it  was  raised  again  by  the  proper  attendants, 
and  the  sight  of  the  cool  green  little  stage  brought  peo- 
ple to  their  good  behaviour.  The  silence  of  expectancy 
spread  through  the  assembly. 

Behind  the  scenes  there  was  a  trifle  of  delay. 

'  My  dear  child,'  Mme.  Lasalle  whispered  to  the  ci-de- 
vant witch  of  Endor,  '  Mr.  Lasalle  is  in  no  condition  to 
act  with  you  as  he  promised.  Ill ;  really  ill,  you  know. 
We  must  take  some  one  else.  Standing  about  with  bare 
feet  don't  agree  with  his  constitution.  It  won't  matter.' 

'  It  matters  very  much  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  O,  well 
— just  leave  that  charade  out.  There  are  enough  more.' 

'  Indeed  there  are  not ! '  exclaimed  her  hostess.  'We 
cannot  spare  this.  Indeed  I  doubt  if  any  other  will  be 
worth  presenting  after  it.  My  dear,  it  makes  no  differ- 
ence !  and  you  are  ready,  and  Stuart  is  ready,  and  the 
people  are  waiting.  You  must  not  fail  me  at  the  pinch, 
Hazel.  Go  on  and  do  your  very  prettiest,  for  my  sake.' 

'  Not  with  Mr.  Nightingale.  I  will  have  little  Jemmy 
Seaton,  then.  He  is  tall  enough.' 

'  He  couldn't  do  it.  Nonsense,  my  dear !  you  don't 
mean  that  there  is  anything  serious  in  it  ?  It  is  only  a 
play,  and  a  short  one  too  ;  and  Stuart  will  be,  privately, 
a  great  improvement  on  Mr.  Lasalle,  who  wouldn't  have 


THE    RUNAWAY.  455 

done  it  with  spirit  enough  ;  as  why  should  he  ?  Come,  go 
on !  Stuart  is  not  worse  to  play  with  than  another,  is 
he  ?  Come  !  there's  Mr.  Brandevin  waiting  for  you. 
He's  capital ! ' 

There  was  no  time  to  debate  the  matter ;  no  time  to 
make  further  changes  ;  everybody  was  waiting ;  Miss 
Kennedy  had  to  yield. 

The  first  act  was  on  this  fashion.  An  old  man  in  the 
blouse  of  a  Normandy  peasant  sat  smoking  his  pipe. 
Enter  to  him  his  daughter,  a  lovely  peasant  girl  ;  Wych 
Hazel  to  wit.  The  father  spoke  in  French  ;  the  daugh- 
ter mingled  French  and  English  in  her  talk  very 
prettily.  There  was  some  dumb  show  of  serving  him  ; 
and  then  the  old  man  got  up  to  go  out,  charging  his 
daughter  in  the  severest  manner  to  admit  no  company 
in  his  absence.  Scarcely  is  he  gone,  when  enter  on  the 
other  side  a  smart  young  man  in  the  same  peasant  dress. 
Words  here  were  not  audible.  In  dumb  show  the  young 
man  made  protestations  of  devotion,  begged  for  his  mis- 
tress's hand  and  kissed  it  with  great  fervour  ;  and  ap- 
peared to  be  carrying  on  a  lively  suit  to  the  damsel. 
Now  nothing  couid  have  been  prettier  than  the  picture 
and  the  pantomime.  Stuart  kept  his  face  away  from  the 
audience ;  Wych  Hazel  was  revealed,  and  in  the  coy, 
blushing  maidenly  dignity  and  confusion  which  suited 
the  character  and  occasion,  was  a  tableau  worth  looking 
at.  Well  looked  at,  and  in  deep  silence  of  the  company ; 
till  suddenly  the  growling  old  French  father  is  heard 
coming  back  again.  The  peasant  starts  to  his  feet,  the 
girl  sits  down  in  terror. 

'What  shall  I  do?'  he  cries,  and  she  echoes, — 'What 
shall  he  do  ?  What  shall  he  do  ? ' 

Then  came  confused  answers  from  the  spectators: — 


456  WYCH   HAZEL. 

'  Bolt,  old  fellow  1 ' — '  Escape ! ' — '  Fly ! ' — '  Run  ! ' — and 
the  last  word  being  taken  up  and  re-echoed,  '  Run  !  run  ! ' 
• — he  did  run  ;  ran  out  and  then  ran  in  and  across  the 
stage  again  ;  finally  out  of  sight ;  and  drop  the  curtain. 
The  burst  of  applause  was  tremendous. 

'  You'll  have  to  go  on,  you  know,  if  that  keeps  up,' 
said  Stuart  behind  the  scenes  ;  '  and  I  don't  wonder. 
Here,  Mr.  Brandevin,  go  in  and  stop  them ! ' 

The  next  scene  was  also  very  well  done.  The  old 
French  gentleman  was  alone,  and  had  it  all  to  perform 
by  himself.  He  began  with  calling  his  daughter,  in 
various  discordant  keys,  and  with  such  a  variety  of  im- 
patient and  exasperated  intonation,  that  the  whole  room 
was  full  of  laughter.  His  daughter  not  appearing  nor 
answering,  he  next  instituted  a  make-believe  search  for 
her,  feigning  to  go  into  the  kitchen,  the  buttery,  her  bed- 
room. Not  finding  her,  and  making  a  great  deal  of 
amusement  for  the  spectators  by  the  way,  he  at  last 
comes  back  and  asks  in  a  deploring  tone,  '  Where  is 
she  ? ' 

Cries  of  '  Off  1 '— '  Gone  !  '— '  Sloped !  '— '  Away !  ' 
were  such  a  medley  that  nobody  professed  to  be  able  yet 
to  make  out  the  word.  The  curtain  fell  again. 

'  You  are  very  stupid,'  said  Mine.  Lasalle.  '  It  is  as 
plain  as  possible.' 

'  It  will  be,  when  we  see  the  rest,'  said  somebody.  '  No, 
I  don't  think  it  is,  either.' 

For  as  he  spoke,  the  curtain  rose  upon  an  old  clergy- 
man, busy  with  his  books  at  a  table  with  a  lamp.  He  had 
a  wig,  and  looked  very  venerable  indeed.  Presently  to 
him  comes,  after  a  knock,  his  servant  woman. 

'  Please,  sir,  here's  a  young  couple  wantin'  to  see  ye 
It's  the  old  story,  I  expect.' 


THE   RUNAWAY.  457 

'  Let  them  come,  Sarah — let  them  come  in  ! '  says  the 
old  clergyman  ;  '  the  old  story  is  the  newest  of  all !  Let 
them  come, — but  first  help  me  on  with  my  gown.  So  ! 
— now  you  may  open  the  door.' 

Enter  the  old  peasant's  daughter  and  her  lover.  The 
latter  confers  with  the  old  clergyman,  who  wheezes  and 
puffs  and  is  quite  fussy ;  finally  bids  them  stand  before 
him  in  the  proper  position.  The  proper  position,  of 
course,  brings  the  two  young  people  to  face  the  audience, 
while  the  old  clergymen's  back  was  a  little  turned  to 
them,  and  no  loss. 

Now  the  dislike  with  which  Miss  Kennedy  had  re 
ceived  the  change  of  companions  in  this  charade  by  no 
means  lessened  as  the  play  went  on.  The  first  scene 
had  annoyed  her,  the  minute  she  had  time  to  think  it 
over  during  the  solo  of  the  second ;  and  now  finding  her- 
self face  to  face  with  ideas  as  well  as  people, — ideas  that 
were  not  among  her  familiars, — was  very  disagreeable  ; 
all  the  more  that  Mr.  Nightingale  had  contrived  to  in- 
fuse rather  more  spirit  into  his  part  of  the  performance 
than  was  absolutely  needful.  Wych  Hazel  looked  un- 
mistakeably  disturbed,  and  her  eyes  never  quitted. the 
ground.  The  audience,  quite  failing  to  catch  her  mood, 
only  applauded. 

'  Capital ! '  said  General  Merrick.  '  Positively  capital ! 
If  it  was  a  real  case,  and  she  in  momentary  expectation 
of  her  father,  she  might  look  just  so.' 

'  Or  if  she  had  accidentally  escaped  with  the  wrong 
person,'  said  Captain  Lancaster,  who  would  have  rather 
preferred  to  be  in  Mr.  Nightingale's  position  himself. 

'  No,'  said  one  of  the  ladies,  '  she  is  not  afraid, — what 
is  she  ? ' 

'  She  is  Wych  Hazel,'  said  Mr.  Kingsland.     '  Do  you 


458  WYCH   HAZEL. 

see  what  a  breath  came  then  ?  Not  complimentary  to 
Nightingale — but  he  can  find  somebody  else  to  turn  his 
head.' 

Meanwhile,  they  all  standing  so,  the  old  clergyman 
began  his  office. 

'  Wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be  thy  wedded  wife  ? ' 
he  demanded  audibly  enough.  And  Stuart's  reply  came 
clear — 

'  I  will.' 

'Wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy  wedded  hus- 
band?' 

He  had  turned  towards  the  pretty  peasant  girl  who 
stood  there  with  her  eyes  cast  down,  and  expectation  was 
a-tiptoe.  Before  the  eyes  were  lifted,  and  before  an 
answer  could  be  returned,  another  actor  came  upon  the 
scene.  The  countryman  who  wore  the  dark  blue  cloth 
bound  with  crimson,  stepped  into  the  group  from  his 
place  at  the  side  of  the  curtain.  He  wore  his  broad- 
brimmed  hat,  but  removed  his  domino  as  he  came  upon 
the  stage.  Yet  he  stood  so  that  the  audience  were  not 
in  position  to  see  his  face.  They  heard  his  voice. 

'  There  is  a  mistake  here,'  he  said  with  an  excellent 
French  accent  on  his  English.  This  lady  is  a — what  you 
call — she  has  no  power  to  dispose  of  herself.' 

The  clergyman  looked  somewhat  doubtful  and  as- 
tonished ;  he  had  not  been  prepared  for  this  turn  of  the 
play ;  but  it  was  all  in  keeping,  the  interruption  came 
naturally,  quietly ;  he  had  to  meet  it  accordingly. 
Stuart's  face  darkened ;  he  knew  better  ;  nevertheless  for 
him  too  there  was  but  one  thing  possible,  to  go  on  and 
play  the  play.  His  face  was  all  in  keeping,  too.  The 
anger  of  the  one  and  the  doubt  of  the  other  actor  were 
all  proper  to  the  action  and  only  helped  the  effect. 


THE   RUNAWAY.  459 

'  Diable  !  what  do  you  want  here  ? '  the  young  peasant 
exclaimed. 

'  What  is  all  this,  sir  ?  what  is  this  ? '  said  the  old  minis- 
ter. '  What  do  you  here,  sir  ? ' 

'  I  come  for  the  lady.' 

'  The  lady  don't  want  to  see  you,  you  fool ! '  exclaimed 
Stuart.  '  You  needn't  think  it.' 

'  What  authority  have  you  here,  sir,  to  interfere  with 
my  office  ? '  demanded  the  clergyman. 

'  Monsieur  ' — said  the  countryman  hesitating,  '  Mon- 
sieur knows.  This  young  girl  is  young — I  represent 
the  guardians  of  her.  She  is  minor  ;  she  has  no  prop- 
erty, nor  no  power  to  marry  herself ;  she  has  nothing 
at  all.  She  has  run  away.  Monsieur  sees.  Come,  you 
runaway  ! '  he  went  on,  advancing  lightly  to  where  the 
young  girl  stood.  '  Come  with  me !  She  has  run 
away  ;  there  is  no  marriage  to-day,  sir,'  he  added  with  a 
touch  of  his  hat  to  the  old  clergyman.  And  then,  taking 
Wych  Hazel's  hand  and  putting  it  on  his  arm  he  walked 
her  out  of  the  room.  It  was  not  as  it  was  a  few  evenings 
ago ;  her  hand  was  taken  in  earnest  now  and  held,  and 
she  was  obliged  to  go  as  she  was  led.  In  the  little 
apartment  which  served  as  a  green-room  there  were  one 
or  two  attendants.  Rollo  walked  past  them  with  a 
steady,  swift  step  which  never  stayed  nor  allowed  his 
companion  to  stop,  until  he  reached  the  ladies'  dressing- 
room.  It  was  entirely  empty  now.  The  very  servants 
had  gathered  where  they  could  see  the  play.  Here  Rollo 
released  his  charge. 

The  first  thing  she  did  was  to  seat  herself  on  the 
nearest  chair  and  look  up  at  him.  Her  first  words  were 
peculiar. 

'If  I  could  give  you  the  least  idea,  Mr.  Rollo,  how 


460  WYCH    HAZEL. 

exceedingly  disagreeable  it  is  to  have  my  hand  taken 
in  that  way,  it  is  possible — I  am  not  sure — but  it  is 
possible,  you  would  not  do  it.  Your  hands  are  so 
strong ! '  she  said,  looking  down  at  the  little  soft  things 
in  her  lap.  '  And  my  strength  is  not  practised.' 

He  looked  grave,  but  spoke  very  gently,  bending  to- 
wards her  as  if  also  considering  the  little  hands. 

'  Did  I  act  so  well  ? '  said  he.  *  You  see  that  was 
because  there  was  so  much  earnest  in  it.' 

'What  made  you  do  it? — is  everything  forbidden 
unless  I  ask  leave  ?' 

'  Do  you  want  to  know  why  I  did  it  ?' 

'  I  did  not  like  the  play,  either,'  she  said, — '  and  I  did 
not  expect — part  of  it.  But  I  had  promised,  and  straight 
through  was  the  quickest  way  out.  It  would  have  done 
— everybody — too  much  honour  to  make  a  fuss.' 

'  I  did  nobody  any  honour,  and  I  made  no  fuss,'  said 
Rollo,  in  his  old  quaint  fashion.  '  And  my  way  was  the 
very  quickest  way  out  for  you.' 

She  jumped  up,  with  a  queer  little  inarticulate  answer, 
that  covered  all  his  statements. 

'  There  will  be  a  fuss,  if  I  do  not  find  a  quick  way 
back  among  those  people,'  she  said,  passing  round  him 
lo  the  door.  Then  paused  with  her  hand  on  the  knob 
considering  something. 

'  Why  did  you  do  it,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  I  will  try  to  explain,  as  soon  as  I  get  an  opportunity. 
One  word,'  he  added,  detaining  her, — '  Laugh  it  off 
as  far  as  you  can,  down  stairs,  as  part  of  the  play.' 

'Easy  to  do,'  said  the  girl  with  some  emphasis. 
'  Unfortunately  I  do  not  feel  at  all  like  laughing.  If  you 
had  done  me  a  little  honour,  sir,  it  would  have  been 
needless.' 


THE    RUNAWAY.  461 

She  went  first  to  the  small  dressing-room  down  stairs, 
catching  up  her  serge  and  muffling  herself  in  it  once 
more,  so  that  not  a  thread  of  her  peasant's  dress  ap- 
peared ;  then  went  silently  in  among  the  crowd,  a  very 
sober  witch  indeed.  It  was  a  little  while  before  she  was 
molested.  By  and  by,  while  another  charade  was  en- 
gaging people's  interest,  Mme.  Lasalle  worked  round  to 
the  muffled  figure. 

'  My  dear,'  she  whispered,  '  who  was  that  ? ' 

'  One  of  your  dominoes,  Madame.  Acted  with  a  good 
deal  of  spirit,  didn't  you  think  so  ? ' 

1  Magnifique !  But  that  was  none  of  my  dominoes. 
My  dear,  you  will  never  know  how  lovely  your  represen- 
tation was.  But,  that  interruption  was  no  part  of  our 
play,  as  we  had  planned  it.  How  came  it  ?  Who  was 
it  ?  Somebody  who  made  play  to  suit  himself  ?  How 
came  it,  Hazel  ? ' 

'Just  what  I  have  been  trying  to  find  out,'  said  the 
girl.  '  I  shall  not  rest  till  I  do.'  But  she  moved  off 
then,  and  kept  moving,  and  was  soon  too  well  taken 
possession  of  for  many  questions  to  reach  her.  All  of 
her  audience  but  two  or  three,  took  the  interruption  for 
part  of  the  play,  and  were  loud  in  their  praises.  Hearing 
and  not  hearing,  muffled  in  thoughts  yet  more  than  in 
serge,  as  an  actor  or  spectator  the  Witch  of  Enclor  saw 
the  charades  through,  and  played  with  her  supper,  and 
finally  went  out  to  her  carriage  and  the  dark  world  of 
night.  For  there  was  no  moon  this  time,  and  stars  are 
uncertain  things. 

As  Stuart  Nightingale  came  back  from  putting  her 
into  the  carriage,  he  encountered  his  aunt. 

'  Well ! '  he  said  in  an  impatient  voice,  smothered  as 
it  was,  'that  job's  all  smoke.' 


462  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Who  was  it  ? ' 

'  That  infernal  meddler,  of  course.' 

'  Rollo  ? ' 

'  Who  else  would  have  dared  ? ' 

'  How  did  he  get  in  ? ' 

'  That  you  ought  to  know  better  than  I.  It  was  no 
fault  of  mine.' 

'  Rollo  ! '  said  Mme.  Lasalle.  '  And  I  thought  I  had 
cleverly  kept  him  out.  The  tickets  were  not  transferable. 
Did  she  let  him  in  ? ' 

'Not  she.  No  doing  of  hers,  nor  liking,  I  promise 
you.  I  think  he  has  settled  his  own  business,  by  the 
way.  But  we  can't  try  this  on  a  second  time,  Aunt 
Victorine.  Confound  him  ! ' 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

IN    A    FOG. 

HAZEL  was  accompanied  to  her  carriage  of  course, 
as  usual.  But  when  she  was  shut  in,  she  heard  an 
unwelcome  voice  saying  to  her  coachman,  '  Drive  slowly, 
Reo ;  the  night  is  very  dark ; '  and  immediately  the  carnage 
door  was  opened  again,  and  the  speaker  took  his  seat 
beside  her  ;  without  asking  leave  this  time.  A  passing 
glare  from  the  lamps  of  another  carriage  shewed  her 
head  and  hands  down  on  the  window-sill,  in  the  way  she 
had  come  from  Greenbush.  Neither  head  nor  hands 
stirred  now. 

Her  companion  was  silent  and  let  her  be  still,  until 
the  carriage  had  moved  out  of  the  Moscheloo  grounds 
and  was  quietly  making  its  way  along  the  dark  high 
road.  Lamps  flung  some  light  right  and  left  from  the 
coach  box  ;  but  within  the  darkness  was  deep.  The 
reflection  from  trees  and  bushes,  the  gleam  of  fence 
rails,  the  travelling  spots  of  illumination  in  the  road,  did 
not  much  help  matters  there. 

'  Miss  Hazel,'  said  Rollo, — and  he  spoke,  though  very 
quietly,  with  a  sort  of  breath  of  patient  impatience, — 
1 1  have  come  with  you  to-night  because  I  could  not  let 
you  drive  home  alone  such  a  dark  night,  and  because 


464  WYCH    HAZEL. 

I  have  something  to  say  to  you  which  will  not  bear  to 
wait  a  half-hour  longer.  Can  you  listen  to  me  ? ' 

'  I  am  listening,  sir,'  she  said,  again  in  a  sort  of  dull 
passiveness.  '  May  I  keep  this  position  ?  I  think  I 
must  be  tired.' 

'  Are  you  very  angry  with  me  ? '  he  asked  gently. 

'  No,'  she  said  in  the  same  tone.  '  I  believe  not.  I 
wish  I  could  get  angry  with  people.  It  is  the  easiest  way.' 

'If  you  are  not  angry,  give  me  your  hand  once  more.' 

'  Are  we  to  execute  any  further  gyrations  ? ' 

'  Give  it  to  me,  and  we  will  see.' 

Rather  hesitatingly,  one  white  glove  came  from  the 
window-sill,  within  his  reach. 

1  You  are  a  queer  person  ! '  she  said.  '  You  will  neither 
give  orders  nor  make  me  execute  them,  without  having 
hold  of  my  hand  !  Are  you  keeping  watch  of  my  pulse, 
so  as  to  stop  in  time  ? ' 

He  made  no  answer  to  that,  nor  spoke  at  all  im- 
mediately. His  hand  closed  upon  the  little  white  glove, 
and  keeping  it  so,  he  presently  said  gravely, 

'  You  and  I  ought  to  be  good  friends,  Hazel,  on  several 
accounts  ; — because  your  father  and  mother  were  good 
friends  of  mine, — and  because  I  love  you  very  dearly.' 

A  slight  motion  on  her  part, — he  could  not  tell  wheth- 
er she  started,  or  what  it  was, — changed  instantly  to  a 
breathless  stillness.  Only  for  a  timid  stir  of  the  hand, 
as  if  it  meant  to  slip  away  unnoticed.  But  it  was  held 
too  firmly  for  that. 

'  I  don't  know  whether  you  know  yet,'  he  went  on 
after  a  slight  pause,  '  what  it  is  to  love  anybody  very 
dearly.  I  remember  you  told  Gyda  one  day  that  you 
had  never  loved  any  one  so  since  your  mother.  Cer- 
tainly I  have  never  had  a  right  to  flatter  myself  that  / 


IN    A    FOG.  465 

had  been  able  to  teach  you  what  it  means.  If  I  am  mis- 
taken,— tell  me.' 

'  Easy  work  ! ' — she  might  have  answered  again, — to 
tell  him  what  she  had  never  told  herself.  And  particu- 
larly nice  of  him  to  choose  such  a  place  for  his  inquiries, 
where  there  was  no  possible  way  of  exit  (for  her)  but  the 
coach  window.  What  had  he  never  tried  to  teach  her, 
except  to  mind  ?  And  of  course  she  never  knew  any- 
thing about — anything  !  But  there  Hazel  shifted  her 
ground,  and  felt  herself  growing  frightened,  and  certain- 
ly wished  her  new  guardian  a  hundred  miles  away. 
What  did  he  mean  ? — was  he  only  sounding  her,  as  Mr. 
Falkirk  did  sometimes  ?  If  so,  he  might  just  find  out 
for  himself ! — With  which  clear  view  of  the  case,  Wych 
Hazel  set  her  foot  (mentally)  on  all  troublesome  possi- 
bilities, and  sat  listening  to  hear  her  heart  beat ;  and 
wondered  how  many  statements  of  fact  Mr.  Rollo  was 
going  to  make,  and  at  what  point  in  the  list  truth  would 
oblige  her  to  start  up  and  confront  him  ? 

He  had  paused  a  little,  to  give  room  for  the  answer 
he  did  not  expect.  Seeing  it  came  not,  with  a  slight 
hastily  drawn  breath  he  went  on  again. 

'  In  the  mean  time  you  have  heard  what  you  never 
ought  to  have  heard, — or  not  for  a  long  time;  and  through 
the  same  good  agency  other  people  have  heard  it  too  ; 
and  you  are  placed  in  a  position  almost  to  hate  the  sight 
of  me,  and  shrink  from  the  sound  of  my  name  ;  and  you 
are  looking  upon  your  father's  will  as  binding  you  to  a 
sort  of  slavery.  I  am  not  going  to  stand  this  a  minute 
longer. 

'  Hazel — •  unless  you  can  love  me  dearly,  my  privileges 
as  guardian  would  be  of  no  use  to  me.  I  would  not 
take  advantae  of  them  if  I  could.  I  would  not  have 


466  WYCH    HAZEL. 

you  on  any  other  terms.  And  I  certainly  am  not  going 
to  be  a  clog  upon  your  happiness.  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  to  keep  my  office,  nominally,  for  one  year ;  prac- 
tically I  mean  to  leave  you  very  much  to  Mr.  Falkirk. 
I  will  keep  it  for  a  year.  At  the  end  of  the  year,  you 
shall  tell  me  whether  I  shall  give  it  up  or  keep  it  longer. 
But  if  longer,  it  will  be  for  ever.  And  I  warn  you,  if  you 
give  it  to  me  then,  it  will  be  a  closer  and  sweeter  guar- 
dianship than  you  have  had  yet,  Hazel.  I  will  keep  what 
I  love,  so  dearly  and  absolutely  as  I  love  her.  But  I 
shall  not  speak  to  you  again  on  this  subject  until  the 
year's  end.  You  need  not  be  afraid.  I  mean  to  see  you 
and  to  let  you  see  me ;  but  you  will  hear  no  more  about 
this  till  the  time  comes.' 

No  answer,  even  then,  only  the  trembling  of  the  little 
hand.  Dark  as  it  was,  she  turned  her  head  yet  more 
away,  laying  her  other  cheek  upon  the  window. 

'  Are  we  friends  now  ? '  he  said  somewhat  lower. 

'  Mr.  Rollo' — she  began.  But  the  tremor  had  found 
its  way  to  the  girl's  voice,  and  she  broke  off  short. 

'  Well  ? '  said  he.  '  That  is  one  of  the  parties.  I 
meant,  Mr.  Rollo  and  Hazel. ' 

'  Be  quiet ! '  she  said  impatiently, — '  and  let  me  speak.' 
But  what  Hazel  wanted  to  say,  did  not  immediately  ap- 
pear. 

He  answered  by  a  clasp  of  her  hand,  and  waited. 

'  I  am  quiet,' — he  suggested  at  length. 

The  girl  made  a  desperate  effort,  and  lifted  up  her 
head,  and  sat  back  in  her  place,  to  answer  ;  but  man- 
aging her  voice  very  much  like  spun  glass,  which  might 
give  way  in  the  using  ;  and  evidently  choosing  her  words 
with  great  care,  every  now  and  then  just  missing  the 
wrong  one. 


IN    A    FOG.  467 

'  You  go  on  making  statements,'  she  said,  catching  her 
breath,  'and  I — have  taken  up  none  of  them,  because  I 
cannot, — because  if, — I  mean,  I  have  let  them  all  pass, 
Mr.  Rollo.' — If  truth  demanded  a  greater  sacrifice  just 
then,  it  could  not  be  because  this  one  was  small. 

'I  know,' he  answered.  'Will  you  do  better  now? 
What  mistake  has  your  silence  led  me  into,  or  left  me 
in  ? ' 

'  I  said  nothing  about  mistakes.  And  I  always  do  as 
well  as  I  can  at  first,'  said  Hazel,  with  a  touch  of  the 
same  impatience. 

'  My  statements  did  not  call  for  an  answer.  But  I  am 
going  to  say  some  other  things  to  which  I  do  want  an  an- 
swer. Shall  I  go  on  ? ' 

'You  know  what  they  are,'  she  said. 

'  I  want  you,'  he  went  on,  speaking  slowly  and  delib- 
erately, '  to  give  me  your  promise  that  you  will  not  waltz 
any  more  until  the  year  is  out  that  I  spoke  of.' 

She  answered  presently,  speaking  in  a  measured  sort 
of  way,  '  That  is  one  thing.  The  other  ? ' 

'  I  want  your  promise  to  this  first.' 

'  Suppose  I  am  not  ready  to  give  it  ? ' 

'  I  ask  for  it,  all  the  same. ' 

Again  she  sorted  her  words. 

'  Well  then — I  am  not  ready, — I  mean,  not  willing. 
And  do  not  you  see — at  least,  I  mean,  you  do  not  see — 
how — unreasoning  a  request  it  is  ? '  The  adjective  gave 
her  some  trouble. 

'  Not  unreasonable  ? ' 

'  I  said  nothing  about  reasonable. ' 

'  No.  But  I  must  have  your  promise.  If  you  knew 
the  world  better,it  would  not  be  necessary  for  me  to  make 
the  request ;  I  know  that ;  but  the  fact  that  you  are — 


468  WYCH    HAZEL. 

simple  as  a  wild  lily, — does  not  make  me  willing  to  sec 
the  wild  lily  lose  any  of  its  charm.  Neither  will  I,  Ha- 
zel, as  long  as  I  have  the  care  of  it.  So  long  as  you  are 
even  in  idea  mine,  no  man  shall — touch  you,  again,  as  I 
saw  it  last  night !  You  are  precious  to  me  beyond  such  a 
possibility.  Give  me  your  promise.' 

'  You  shall  not  talk  to  me  so  ! '  she  cried,  shrinking 
off  in  the  old  fashion.  '  I  will  not  let  you  !  You  have 
done  it  before.  And  I  tell  you  that  I  never — touch 
anybody — except  with  the  tip  end  of  my  glove  ! ' 

'No  more  than  the  wild  lily  does.  But,  Hazel,  no  one 
shall  touch  the  lily,  while  I  have  care  of  it ! '  He  spoke 
in  the  low  tone  of  determination.  Hazel  did  not  answer. 

'  Promise  me  ! '  he  said  again,  when  he  found  that  she 
was  silent. 

'  By  your  own  shewing  it  is  hardly  needed,'  she  said. 
'  I  suppose  obedience  will  do  as  well.' 

'  Let  it  be  a  matter  of  grace,  not  of  obligation.' 

'  There  is  some  grace  in  obedience.  Why  do  you 
want  a  promise  ? ' 

'  To  make  the  matter  certain.  Else  you  may  be 
tempted,  or  cajoled,  into  what — if  you  knew  better — you 
would  never  do.  You  will  know  better  by  and  by, 
Meanwhile  I  stand  in  the  way.  Come  !  give  me  the 
promise  ! ' 

There  was  a  little  bit  of  a  laugh  at  that,  saying  various 
things. 

'  I  shall  not  be  cajoled,'  she  said.  '  But  I  will  not 
make  promises-' 

'  How  then  will  you  make  me  secure,  that  what  I  do 
not  wish  shall  not  be  done  ?' 

*  It  is  not  a  matter  about  which  I  am  anxious,  sir,' 
said  Miss  Wych  coolly. 


IN    A    FOG.  469 

'  I  am  not  anxious,'  he  said  very  quietly,  '  because  one 
way  or  another  I  will  be  secure.  Do  you  think  I  can 
hold  you  in  my  heart  as  I  do,  and  suffer  other  men  to 
approach  you  as  I  saw  it  last  night  ?  Never  again. 
Hazel ! ' 

Dead  silence  on  the  lady's  part ;  this  '  mixed-up '  style 
of  remark  being,  as  she  found,  extremely  hard  to  answei 

4  What  shall  I  do  ? '  he  said  gently. 

'  About  what,  sir  ? ' 

'  Making  myself  secure  ? ' 

'  I  do  not  know,'  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  No  suggestion 
occurs  to  me  that  would  be  worth  your  consideration.' 

'  I  spoke  to  you  once,  some  time  ago,  on  the  abstract 
grounds  of  the  question  we  have  under  discussion. 
These,  being  only  a  wild  lily,  you  did  not  comprehend. 
You  do  not  love  me,  or  you  would  give  me  my  promise 
fast  enough  on  other  grounds.  You  leave  me  a  very 
difficult  way.  You  leave  me  no  way  but  to  take  meas- 
ures to  remove  you  from  temptation.  Is  not  that  less 
pleasant,  Hazel,  than  to  give  me  the  promise  ? ' 

'  She  was  silent  for  several  minutes;  not  pondering 
the  question,  but  fighting  the  pain.  To  be  forced  into 
anything, — to  have  him  take  that  tone  with  her ! ' — 

'  How  will  you  do  it  ? '  she  said. 

He  hesitated  and  then  answered  gently, 

'  You  need  not  ask  me  that.  You  will  not  make  it 
necessary.' 

'  Not  ask  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel  rousing  up.  '  Of  course 
I  ask  !  Do  you  expect  to  frighten  me  off  my  feet  with  a 
mere  impersonal  "  it  "  ? ' — Then  with  a  laugh  which  some- 
how told  merely  of  pain,  she  added  :  '  You  might  cut 
short  my  allowance,  and  stint  me  in  slippers, — only  that 
unfortunately  the  allowance  is  a  fixed  fact.' 


47°  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  did  not  mean  to  threaten,'  he  said  in  a  voice  that 
certainly  spoke  of  pain  on  his  own  part.  '  Is  it  so  much 
to  promise,  Hazel  ? ' 

'  You  did  do  it,  however,'  said  the  girl, — '  but  we  will 
pass  that.  Everything  is  "  much  "  to  promise.  And  why 
I  refuse,  Mr.  Rollo,  is  not  the  question.  But  it  seems  to 
me,  that  while  my  father  might  command  me,  on  my 
allegiance,  to  give  such  a  promise,  no  delegated  author- 
ity of  his  can  reach  so  far.  I  may  find  myself  mistaken.' 

'  Do  me  justice,'  he  said.  '  I  did  not  command  a  pro- 
mise ;  I  sued  for  it.  The  protection  the  promise  was 
to  throw  around  you,  I  will  secure  in  other  ways  if  I 
must.  But  do  not  forget,  Hazel,  why  I  do  it.' 

'  I  do  not  believe  you  know,'  said  the  girl  excitedly. 
'"Wild  lilies?" — why,  even  wild  elephants  are  not 
usually  required  to  tie  their  own  knots.  What  comes 
next  ?  I  should  like  to  have  the  whole,  if  possible, 
before  I  get  home — which  seems  likely  to  be  about 
breakfast  time.' 

'  Reo  is  driving  as  fast  as  he  ought  to  drive,  such  a 
night.  What  do  you  mean  by  "  what  comes  next  "  ? ' 

'  You  said,  I  thought,  you  had  several  things  to  speak 
of.' 

'  I  remember.  I  was  going  to  ask  you  to  go  to  see 
Gyda  sometimes.' 

'  That  is  already  disposed  of — if  I  am  to  be  allowed 
to  go  nowhere,'  said  Hazel,  with  a  rush  of  pain  which 
very  nearly  got  into  her  voice.  '  The  next,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

"  I  think,  nothing  next.  You  know,'  he  went  on, 
speaking  half  lightly,  and  yet  with  a  thread  of  tender 
persuasion  in  his  voice,  '  you  know  that  next  year  you  can 
dispose  of  me.  Seeing  that  in  the  mean  while  /ou  can- 
not help  yourself,  would  it  not  be  better  to  give  me  the 


IN    A    FOG.  471 

assurance  that  for  this  year  you  will  forego  the  waltz  ? 
and  let  things  go  on  as  they  are  ?  Field  mice  always 
make  the  best  of  circumstances.' 

'  All  summer/  she  answered,  'you  have  not  even  taken 
the  trouble  to  forbid  me  !  And  now,  forbidding  will  not 
do,  but  you  must  use  threats.  They  might  at  least 
wait  until  I  had  disobeyed.' 

'  That  is  a  very  distant  view  of  me  indeed  ! '  said 
Rollo.  '  Details  are  lost.  I  will  get  you  a  lorgnette  the 
next  time  I  go  anywhere.' 

'  You  had  better,'  said  Hazel,  not  stopping  to  weigh 
her  words  this  time,  '  for  such  distance  does  not  lend 
enchantment.' — After  which  the  silence  on  her  part 
became  rather  profound. 

'  No,'  said  Rollo  dryly,  '  I  see  it  does  not.  What 
will  you  do  by  and  by,  when  you  are  sorry  for  having 
treated  me  so  this  evening  ? ' 

'  I  daresay  I  shall  find  out  when  the  time  comes.' — 

She  leaned  her  head  back  against  the  carriage,  want- 
ing dreadfully  to  get  home,  and  put  it  down,  and  think. 
She  could  not  think  with  her  hand  held  fast  in  that 
fashion, — and  she  could  not  get  it  away,  without  making 
a  fuss  and  so  drawing  attention  to  the  fact  that  it  was 
not  in  her  own  keeping.  One  or  two  slight  efforts  in 
that  direction  had  been  singularly  fruitless.  So  she  sat 
still,  puzzling  over  questions  which  have  perplexed  older 
heads  than  hers.  As,  how  you  can  have  a  thing  given 
you,  and  yet  not  seem  to  possess  it, — and  why  people 
cannot  say  words  to  give  you  pleasure,  without  at  once 
adding  others  to  give  you  pain.  What  had  she  done  ? 
Mr.  Falkirk  would  have  thought  her  a  miracle  of  obe- 
dience these  last  two  nights  ;  she  even  wondered  at  her- 
self. How  she  had  enjoyed  her  home  this  summer  ! — it 


472  WYCH    HAZEL. 

seemed  to  her  that  she  loved  ever}'  leaf  upon  every  tree. 
What  could  he  mean  by  '  remove '  ?  And  here  a  long, 
deep  sigh  so  nearly  escaped  her  lips,  that  she  sat  up 
again  in  sudden  haste,  erect  as  before  ;  but  feeling  un- 
mistakably lonely,  and  just  a  little  bit  forlorn. 

Perhaps  her  companion's  thoughts  had  come  on  one 
point  near  to  hers  ;  for  he  gently  put  the  little  white 
glove  back  upon  her  lap  and  left  it  there.  His  words  went 
back  to  her  last  ones,  though  after  a  minute's  interval. 

'  It  will  come,'  he  said  confidently.  '  All  the  field 
mice  of  my  acquaintance  are  true  and  tender.  When  it 
comes,  Hazel,  will  you  do  me  justice  ? ' 

She  stirred  uneasily,  and  once  or  twice  essayed  to 
speak,  and  did  not  make  it  out.  This  way  of  taking 
things  for  granted,  and  on  such  made  ground  laying  out 
railroads  and  running  trains,  was  very  confusing.  Hazel 
felt  as  if  the  air  were  full  of  mistakes,  and  none  of  them 
within  her  reach.  When  at  last  she  did  speak,  plainly 
she  had  laid  hold  of  the  easiest.  The  words  came  out 
abruptly,  but  in  one  of  her  sweet  bird-like  tones. 

'  Mr.  Rollo — I  am  not  the  least  imaginable  bit  like  a 
field  mouse  ! ' 

'  In  what  respect  ? ' 

'  These  nice,  tender  people  that  you  know ' — she  went 
on.  'I  believe  I  am  true.' 

It  might  have  been  some  pressure  of  the  latter  fact, 
that  made  her  go  on  after  a  moments  pause  ;  catching 
her  breath  a  little,  as  if  to  go  on  was  very  disagreeable, 
speaking  quick  and  low  ;  correcting  herself  here  and 
there. 

'  I  wish  you  would  stop  saying — all  sorts  of  things, 
Mr.  Rollo.  Because  they  are  not  true.  Some  of  them. 
And — I  do  not  understand  you.  Sometimes.  And  I  do 


IN    A    FOG.  473 

not  know  what  you  mean  by  my  doing  you  justice. 
Because — •!  always  did  —  I  think,  —  and  I  have  not 
"treated  you,"  at  al-1,  to-night.' 

With  which  Hazel  leaned  head  and  hands  down  upon 
the  window  again,  and  looked  out  into  the  dark  night. 
Would  they  ever  get  home  ? — But  it  was  impossible  to 
drive  faster.  A  thick  fog  filled  the  air,  and  it  was 
intensely  dark. 

'  I  have  been  telling  you  that  I  love  you.  That  you 
do  not  quite  understand.  I  am  bound  not  to  speak  on 
the  subject  again  for  a  whole  year.  But  supposing  that 
in  the  meantime  you  should  come  to  the  understanding 
of  it, — and  suppose  you  find  out  that  I  have  given  field 
mice  a  just  character  ; — will  you  do  me  the  justice  to  let 
me  find  it  out  ?  And  in  the  meantime, — we  shall  be  at 
Chickaree  presently, — perhaps  you  will  give  me,  in  a  clay 
or  two,  the  assurance  I  have  begged  of  you,  and  not 
drive  me  to  extremities.' 

'  Very  well ! '  she  said,  raiting  her  head  again, — '  if 
you  will  have  it  in  that  shape !  But  the  worth  of  an 
insignificant  thing  depends  a  little  upon  the  setting,  and 
the  setting  of  my  refusal  was  much  better  than  t-he  setting 
of  my  compliance.  There  is  no  grace  whatever  about  this. 
And  take  notice,  sir,  that  if  you  had  gone  to  "  extremi- 
ties," you  would  have  driven  yourself.  I  always  have 
obeyed,  and  always  should.  But  I  give  the  promise  !  ' — 
and  her  head  went  down  again,  and  her  eyes  looked 
straight  out  i-nto  the  fog. 

He  said  '  Thank  you ! '  earnestly,  and  he  said  no 
more.  There  is  no  doubt  but  he  felt  relieved  ;  at  the 
same  time  there  is  no  doubt  but  Mr.  Rollo  was  a  mysti- 
fied man.  That  her  compliance  had  no  grace  about  it 
was  indeed  manifest  enough  ;  the  grace  of  her  refusal 


474  WYCH    HAZEL. 

was  further  to  seek.  He  deposited  the  little  lady  of 
Chickaree  at  her  own  door  with  no  more  words  than  a 
'good-night ;'  and  went  the  rest  of  his  way  in  the  fog 
alone.  And  if  Wych  Hazel  had  suffered  some  annoy- 
ance that  evening,  her  young  guardian  was  not  without 
his  share  of  pain.  It  was  rather  sharp  for  a  time,  after 
he  had  parted  from  her.  Had  the  work  of  these  weeks, 
and  of  his  revealed  guardianship,  and  of  his  exercise  of 
office,  driven  her  from  him  entirely  ?  He  looked  into 
the  question,  as  he  drove  home  through  the  fog. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


IT  was  no  new  thing  for  the  young  lady  of  Chickaree  to 
come  home  late,  and  dismiss  her  attendants,  and  put 
herself  to  bed  ;  neither  was  it  uncommon  for  her  to  sleep 
over  breakfast  time  in  such  cases,  and  take  her  coffee 
afterwards  in  Mrs.  Bywank's  room  alone.  But  when  the 
fog  had  cleared  away,  the  morning  after  Mme.  Lasalle's 
ball,  and  the  sun  was  riding  high,  and  still  no  signs  of 
Miss  Wych,  then  Mrs.  By  wank  went  to  her  room.  And 
the  good  housekeeper  was  much  taken  aback  to  find 
peasant  dress  and  grey  serge  curled  down  together  in  a 
heap  on  the  floor,  and  Miss  Wych  among  them,  asleep 
with  her  head  in  a  chair.  Perhaps  that  in  itself  was  not 
so  much  ;  but  the  long  eyelashes  lay  wet  and  heavy  upon 
her  cheek,  — and  Mrs.  By  wank  knew  that  token  of  old. 

I  am  afraid  some  hard  thoughts  about  Mr.  Rollo  dis- 
turbed her  mind,  as  she  stood  there  looking.  What  use 
had  he  made  of  his  ticket  to  distress  her  darling? — she 
such  a  mere  child,  and  he  with  his  mature  twenty-five 
years  ?  But  Mrs.  Bywank  did  not  dare  to  ask,  even 
when  the  girl  stirred  and  woke  and  rose  up  ;  though  the 
ready  flush,  and  the  unready  eyes,  and  the  grave  mouth, 
went  to  her  very  heart.  She  noted,  too,  that  her  young 


476  WYCH    HAZEL. 

lady  went  into  no  graphic  descriptions  of  the  ball,  as 
was  her  wont ;  but  merely  bade  Phoebe  take  away  the 
two  fancy  dresses,  and  ensconced  herself  in  a  maze  of 
soft  white  folds,  and  then  went  and  knelt  down  by  the 
open  window  ;  leaning  her  elbows  there,  and  her  chin 
on  her  hands.  Mrs.  Bywank  waited. 

'  Miss  Wych,'  she  began  after  a  while, — '  my  dear, 
you  have  had  no  breakfast.' 

'  I  want  none.' 

'  But  you  will  have  some  lunch  ? ' 

'No.' 

'  My  dear, — you  must,'  said  Mrs.  Bywank.  '  You  will 
be  sick,  Miss  Wych.' 

'  Don't  you  say  "  must "  to  me,  Byo  ! '  said  the  girl 
impetuously.  But  then  she  started  up  and  flung  her 
arms  round  Mrs.  Bywank  and  kissed  her,  and  said, 
'  Come,  let's  have  some  lunch,  then  ! ' — giving  half-a- 
dozen  orders  to  Phoebe  as  she  went  along.  But  the 
minute  lunch  was  over,  Wych  Hazel  stepped  into  her 
carriage  and  drove  away.  Not  the  landau  this  time, 
though  the  September  day  was  fair  and  soft ;  neither 
was  the  young  lady  arrayed  in  any  wise  for  paying  visits; 
her  white  cloud  of  morning  muslin  and  lace,  hep  broad 
gipsy  hat,  and  gauntlets  caught  up  and  carried  in  her 
hand,  not  put  on, —  so  she  bestowed  herself  in  the  close 
carriage  which  generally  she  used  only  by  night.  And 
the  low-spoken  orders  to  Reo  were,  to  take  her  a  road 
she  had  never  been,  and  drive  till  she  told  him  to  stop. 
Then  she  threw  herself  back  against  the  cushions,  and 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands,  and  tried  to  think. 

If  that  was  to  leave  her  '  practically  to  Mr.  Falkirk,' 
her  knowledge  of  English  was  somewhat  deficient.  And 
if  belonging  to  somebody  merely  '  in  idea '  had  such 


DODGING.  477 

results  ! — but  she  was  shy  of  the  '  idea,'  blushing  over 
it  there  all  by  herself  as  she  pushed  it  away.  She  was 
disappointed,  there  was  no  doubt  about  that.  Foiled  of 
her  plan,  over  which  she  had  pleased  herself ;  for  she 
had  intended  to  give  a  '  no '  instead  of  a  '  yes '  at  the 
right  place  in  the  charade,  to  the  discomfiture  of  all 
parties  ; — curbed  by  a  strong  hand,  which  she  never 
could  bear ;  hurt  and  sorrowful  that  nobody  would  trust 
her  with  even  the  care  of  her  own  womanhood. 

'  I  wonder  what  there  is  about  me  ? '  she  cried  to  her- 
self, with  two  or  three  indignant  tears  rushing  up  un- 
bidden. '  As  if  I  had  not  had  a  sharper  lesson  the  other 
night  than  any  he  could  give  ! ' — No,  not  quite  that ;  the 
sharpest  dated  further  back  ;  but  this  would  have  been 
enough  of  itself.  And  what  else  was  she  to  do  or  not 
do  ? — she  took  down  her  hands,  and  crossed  them,  and 
looked  at  them  as  she  had  done  before  the  picture  of 
the  '  loss  of  all  things.'  These  bonds  did  not  feel  like 
those  ;  she  did  not  like  them,  none  the  less  ; — and — she 
wondered  what  was  his  idea  of  dose  guardianship  ?  And 
had  he  made  any  misstatements  ? — Reo  drove  on  and 
on,  till  his  practised  eye  saw  that  to  get  home  by  tea- 
time  was  all  that  was  left,  and  then  stopped  and  got 
permission  to  turn  round. 

But  driving  seemed  to  have  become  a  sudden  passion 
with  Miss  Wych.  She  kept  herself  out,  somewhere, 
somehow,  day  after  day ;  denied  of  course  to  all  visitors, 
and  of  small  avail  to  Mr.  Falkirk,  except  to  pour  out  his 
coffee.  Miss  Kennedy  was  in  danger  of  creating  a  new 
excitement ;  being  always  out  and  yet  never  .visible  ;  for 
one  entertainment  after  another  went  by,  and  brought 
only  her  excuses. 

Either   the  driving  fever  cooled,  however,  or  Wych 


478  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Hazel  found  out  at  last  that  even  thoughts  may  be  trouble- 
some company  ;  for  she  began  suddenly  to  surround  her- 
self with  invited  guests  ;  and  one  or  two  to  breakfast,  and 
three  to  dinner,  and  six  to  tea,  became  the  new  order  of 
things  for  Mr.  Falkirk's  delectation.  Some  favoured 
young  ladies  even  stayed  over  night  sometimes,  and  then 
they  all  went  driving  together.  Mr.  Falkirk  frowned,  and 
Mrs.  Bywank  smiled  ;  and  cards  accumulated  to  a  fear- 
ful extent  in  the  hall  basket  at  Chickaree. 

Rollo  among  others  had  been  discomfited,  by  finding 
the  young  lady  invisible,  or,  what  was  the  same  thing 
for  his  purpose,  visible  to  too  many  at  once.  This  state 
of  things  lasted  some  time,  but  in  the  nature  of  things 
could  not  last  for  ever.  There  came  a  morning,  when 
Mr.  Falkirk  was  the  only  visitor  at  the  Chickaree  break- 
fast table,  and  just  as  Mr.  Falkirk's  coffee  was  poured 
out,  Dingee  announced  his  co-guardian. 

Well — she  knew  it  had  to  come  ;  but  she  could  have 
found  in  her  heart  to  execute  summary  justice  on  Dingee 
for  the  announcement,  nevertheless.  Nobody  saw  her 
eyes, — and  nobody  could  help  seeing  her  cheeks  ;  but 
all  else  that  transpired  was  a  very  reserved  : 

'  Good  morning,  Mr.  Rollo.  You  are  just  in  time  to 
enliven  Mr.  Falkirk's  breakfast,  over  which  he  ran  some 
risk  of  going  to  sleep.' 

Perhaps  Mr.  Rollo  had  a  flashing  question  cross  his 
mind,  whether  he  had  not  missed  something  through 
lack  of  a  hunter's  patience  the  other  night ;  but  he  was 
too  much  of  a  hunter  to  do  anything  but  make  the  best 
of  circumstances.  He  shook  hands  in  precisely  his 
usual  manner ;  remarking  that  Mr.  Falkirk  had  not  had 
a  ride  of  four  miles  ;  took  his  breakfast  like  a  man  who 
had  ;  and  only  towards  the  close  of  breakfast  suddenly 


DODGING.  479 

turned  to  his  hostess  and  asked,  '  How  does  Jeannie 
Deans  behave  ? ' 

Apparently  Hazel's  thoughts  had  not  been  held  fast 
by  the  politics  under  discussion,  for  she  had  gone  into  a 
deep  grave  meditation. 

'  Jeannie  Deans  ?'  she  said,  with  her  face  flushing  all 
up  again.  '  Why — very  well.  The  last  time  I  rode 
her.' 

'  When  was  that  ?' 

'  Monday,  I  think,  was  the  day  of  the  week :  but  I 
suppose  she  would  have  behaved  just  as  well  if  it  had 
been  Tuesday.' 

'Then  probably  she  would  have  no  objection  to  Wed- 
nesday ? ' 

'  Other  things  being  comformable,'  said  Wych  Hazel, 
still  keeping  her  eyes  to  herself. 

'  Do  you  mean,  that  you  and  she  are  in  such  sympa- 
thy, that  if  she  does  not  behave  well  you  know  the 
reason  ? ' 

'  I  never  sympathize  with  anybody's  ill-behaviour  but 
my  own,'  said  Hazel,  '  if  that  is  what  you  mean.' 

'  I  meant,'  said  Rollo  with  perfect  gravity,  '  that  per. 
haps  she  sympathized  with  yours  ? ' 

1  It  occurs  to  me  in  this  connection— talking  of  be- 
haviour,'— said  Miss  Kennedy,  '  that  I  had  a  question  to 
ask  of  you  two  gentlemen,  which  it  may  save  time — and 
trouble — to  state  while  you  are  both  together.  Are  you 
attending  to  me,  sir  ? '  she  asked,  looking  straight  over 
at  her  other  guardian  now, — '  or  has  your  mind  gone  off 
to  :  "  Grand  Vizier  certainly  strangled  "  ? ' 

'  My  mind  never  goes  off  when  you  begin  to  state 
questions,  Miss  Hazel  ;  knowing  that  it  will  probably 
have  work  enough  at  home.' 


480  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  This  one  is  extremely  simple,  sir.  Why,  when  you 
both  agreed  that  I  should  have  neither  saddle-horse  nor 
pony  for  my  own  individual  use,  did  you  not  tell  me  so 
at  once  ?  Instead  of  keeping  me  all  summer  in  a  state 
of  hope  deferred  and  disappointment  in  hand  ? ' 

'  Shall  I  take  the  burden  of  explanation  on  myself,  sir  ?' 
asked  Rollo. 

'  If  you  like.  It  lies  on  you  properly,'  said  Mr.  Fal- 
kirk,  in  anything  but  an  amiable  voice. 

'Then  may  I  order  up  Jeannie  for  you  ? '  Rollo  went 
on  with  a  smile,  to  Wych  Hazel ;  '  and  I  will  explain  as 
we  go  along.' 

'That  is  to  say,  there  is  no  explanation,  but  just  the 
one  I  had  made  out  for  myself.  Mr.  Falkirk,  did  I 
ever  practise  any  underhand  dealings  with  you  ? '  she 
said. 

'  Don't  begin  to  do  it  with  me,'  said  Rollo.  '  Suppose 
you  put  on  your  habit,  and  in  half  an  hour  we'll  have  it 
all  out  on  the  road.' 

'  Your  respective  ancestors  must  have  been  invaluable 
in  the  old  Salem  times,'  said  the  young  lady,  arching 
her  brows  a  little.  '  In  these  days  I  think  truth  should 
win  truth.'  With  which  expression  of  opinion  Miss 
Wych  whistled  for  a  fresh  glass  of  water  and  dismissed 
the  subject.  Not  without  a  smothered  sigh,  however. 

'  I  did  not  understand,'  said  Rollo,  '  that  expression 
of  respect  for  our  ancestors.' 

'  Naturally.  As  I  expressed  none.  But  I  remember 
— you  belong  across  the  sea  ;  where  witchcraft  probably 
is  unknown,  and  so  is  never  dealt  with.' 

'  What  would  you  give  as  the  best  manner  of  dealing 
with  it  ? '  Rollo  inquired  with  admirable  command  of 
countenance. 


DODGING.  48 1 

( I  suppose  I  should  let  them  go  their  way.  But  then, 
being  one  of  the  guild,  I  of  course  fail  to  see  the  danger  ; 
and  cannot  appreciate  the  mild  form  of  fear  which  has 
shadowed  Mr.  Falkirk  for  ten  years  past,  nor  the  sharper 
attack  which  has  suddenly  seized  Mr.  Rollo.'  She  could 
keep  her  face  too,  looking  carelessly  down  and  poising 
her  teaspoon. 

'  What  becomes  of  your  kitten,  when  you  are  suddenly 
made  aware  that  there  are  strange  dogs  about?'  said 
Rollo  again,  eyeing  her. 

'  My  kitten,  indeed  !' — said  Hazel,  with  just  so  much 
stir  of  her  composure  as  recognized  the  look  which  yet 
she  did  not  see.  'Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  dog's  cajoling 
a  cat,  Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  Did  you  never  hear  of  puss  in  a  corner  ?  ' 

'  Yes,'  she  said.  '  You  would  not  think  it,  but  I  am 
very  good  at  that.' 

'  You  are  very  good  at  something  else,'  said  he  smiling. 
'  Will  you  permit  me  to  remind  you,  that  I  have  not  yet 
had  the  honour  of  an  answer  to  my  inquiry  whether  your 
witchship  will  ride  this  morning  ? ' 

If  Mr.  Falkirk  had  been  away,  it  is  not  sure  what  she 
would  have  answered  ;  But  Hazel  had  no  mind  to  draw 
out  even  silent  comments  from  him.  So  she  gave  a 
hesitating  answer  that  yet  granted  the  appeal.  Then 
wished  the  next  moment  she  had  not  given  it.  Would 
she  need  most  courage  to  take  it  back,  or  to  go  on  ? 

'  If  you  will  excuse  me,  then,  I  will  go  and  see  to  the 
horses.  I  leave  you,  Mr.  Falkirk,  to  defend  yourself! 
I  have  been  unable  to  decoy  the  enemy.' 

With  which  he  went  off.  Mr.  Falkirk's  brows  were 
drawn  pretty  close. 

'  Miss  Hazel,  I  should  like  to  be  told,  now  that  we  are 


482  WYCH    HAZEL. 

alone,  in  what  way  I  have  failed  to  meet  "  truth  with 
truth  "  ? ' 

'My  dear  sir,  how  you  do  scowl  at  me  !' said  Miss 
Hazel,  retaking  her  easy  manner,  now  that  her  enemy 
was  away.  '  I  only  used  the  word  in  a  popular  sense.  If 
I  never  misled  you,  then  you  had  no  right  to  mislead 
me' 

1  How  were  you  misled,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  I  supposed,  being  somewhat  simple-minded,  that  the 
reason  horse,  pony,  and  basket  wagon  did  not  appear, 
was  that  they  could  not  be  found,  sir.  It  shews  how 
ignorant  I  am  of  the  world  still,  I  must  acknowledge.' 

'  I  have  no  opinion  of  ponies  and  basket  wagons,' 
said  her  guardian.  'And  I  do  not  know  how  well  you 
can  drive.  And  you  are  too  young,  Miss  Hazel,  and 
too — well,  you  are  too  young  to  be  allowed  to  drive 
round  the  world  by  yourself.  When  Cinderella,  no, 
when  Quickear,  sets  off  to  seek  her  fortune,  she  goes 
fast  enough  in  all  nature  without  a  pony.' 

'  There  are  just  two  little  faults  in  your  statement, 
sir,  considered  as  an  answer.  I  never  was  fast' — said 
Miss  Hazel, — '  but  trying  to  hoodwink  me  is  not  likely  to 
make  me  slow,' — and  she  went  off  to  don  her  habit  and 
gather  herself  up  for  the  ride. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

A  COTTON  MILL. 

AS  she  came  to  the  side  door,  she  saw  Rollo  just 
dismounting  from  Jeannie  Deans,  and  immedi- 
ately preparing  to  remove  his  saddle  and  substitute  the 
side-saddle  ;  which  he  did  with  the  care  used  on  a  form- 
er occasion.  But  Jeannie  had  raised  her  head  and 
given  a  whinny  of  undoubted  pleasure. 

'  Let  her  go,  Mr.  Rollo,'  whispered  Lewis. 

And  so  released,  the  little  brown  steed  set  off  at  once, 
walking  straight  to  the  verandah  steps,  pausing  there  and 
looking  up  to  watch  Hazel,  renewing  her  greeting  in 
lower  tones,  as  if  this  were  private  and  confidential- 
Hazel  ran  down  the  steps,  and  made  her  fingers  busy  with 
bridle  and  mane,  giving  furtive  caresses.  Only  when 
she  was  mounted,  and  Rollo  had  turned,  his  ear  caught 
the  sound  of  one  or  two  little  soft  whispers  that  were 
meant  for  Jeannie's  ears  alone. 

Perhaps  the  gentleman  wanted  to  give  Wych  Hazel's 
thoughts  a  convenient  diversion  ;  perhaps  he  wished  to 
get  upon  some  safe  common  ground  of  interest  and  inter- 
course ;  perhaps  he  purposed  to  wear  off  any  awkward- 
ness that  might  embarrass  their  mutual  good  understand- 
ing ;  for  he  prefaced  the  ride  with  a  series  of  instructions 
in  horsemanship.  Mr.  Falkirk  had  never  let  his  ward 
practise  leaping  ;  Rollo  knew  that ;  but  now,  and  with 


484  WYCH   HAZEL. 

Mr.  Falkirk  looking  on,  he  ordered  up  the  two  grooms 
with  a  bar,  and  gave  Wych  Hazel  a  lively  time  for  half 
an  hour.  A  good  solid  riding  lesson,  too  ;  and  prob- 
ably for  that  space  of  time  at  least  attained  all  his  ends. 
But  when  he  himself  was  mounted,  and  they  had  set  off 
upon  a  quiet  descent  of  the  Chickaree  hill,  out  of  sight 
of  Mr.  Falkirk,  all  Wych  Hazel's  shyness  came  back 
again ;  hiding  itself  behind  reserve.  Rollo  was  in  rather 
a  gay  mood. 

'  It  is  good  practice,'  he  said.  '  Did  you  ever  go 
through  a  cotton  mill  ?  ' 

1  Never.' 

'  How  would  you  like  to  go  through  one  to-day  ? ' 

'  Why — I  do  not  know.     Very  well,  I  daresay.' 

So  with  this  slight  and  doubtful  encouragement,  Rollo 
again  took  the  way  to  Morton  Hollow.  It  was  early 
October  now  ;  the  maples  and  hickories  showing  red  and 
yellow  ;  the  air  a  wonderful  compound  of  spicy  sweetness 
and  strength  ;  the  heaven  over  their  heads  mottled  with 
filmy  stretches  of  cloud,  which  seemed  to  float  in  the 
high  ether  quite  at  rest.  A  day  for  all  sorts  of  things  ; 
good  for  exertion,  and  equally  inviting  one  to  be  still 
and  think. 

'  How  happens  it  you  have  let  Jeannie  stand  still  so 
long  ? '  Rollo  asked  presently. 

'  I  have  not  wanted  to  ride  her, — that  is  all.' 

'  Would  you  like  her  better  if  she  were  your  own?' 
he  said  quite  gently,  though  with  a  keen  eye  directed  at 
Wvch  Hazel's  face. 

'  No.  Not  now.'  The  '  now '  slipped  out  by  mistake, 
and  might  mean  either  of  two  things.  Rollo  did  not 
feel  sure  what  it  meant. 

*  Did  you  ever  notice,'  he  said  after  a  few  minutes 


A   COTTON    MILL.  485 

again, '  how  different  the  clouds  of  this  season  are  from 
those  of  other  times  of  the  year  ?  Look  at  those  high 
bands  of  vapour  lying  along  towards  the  south;  they 
seem  absolutely  poised  and  still.  Clouds  in  spring  and 
summer  are  drifting,  or  flying,  or  dispersing,  or  gather- 
ing :  earnest  and  purposeful ;  with  work  to  do,  and  hur- 
rying to  do  it.  Look  at  those  yonder  j  they  are  at  rest, 
as  if  all  the  work  of  the  year  were  done  up.  I  think 
they  say  it  is.' 

The  fair  grave  face  was  lifted,  shewing  uncertainty 
through  the  light  veil ;  and  she  looked  up  intently  at 
the  sky,  almost  wondering  to  herself  if  there  had  been 
clouds  in  the  spring  and  early  summer.  She  hardly 
seemed  to  remember  them. 

'  Is  that  what  they  say  to  you  ?  she  said  dreamily. 
'They  look  to  me  as  if  they  were  just  waiting, — waiting 
to  see  where  the  wind  will  rise.' 

'  But  the  wind  does  not  rise  in  October.  They  will 
lie  there,  on  the  blessed  blue,  half  the  day.  It  looks 
to  me  like  the  rest  after  work.' 

She  glanced  at  him. 

'  I  do  not  know  much  about  work,'  she  said.  •  '  What 
,1  suppose  you  would  call  work.  It  has  not  come  into 
my  hands.' 

'  It  has  not  come  into  mine,'  said  Rollo.  '  But  can 
there  be  rest  without  work  going  before  it  ? ' 

'  Such  stillness?'  she  said,  looking  up  at  the  white 
flecks  again.  '  But  according  to  that,  we  do  not  either 
of  us  know  rest.' 

'  Well,'  said  he  smiling,  '  I  do  not.     Do  you  ? ' 

'  I  used  to  think  I  did.  What  do  you  mean  by  rest, 
Mr.  Rollo  ? ' 

'  Look  at  those  lines  of  cloud.     They  tell.     The  re- 


486  WYCH    HAZEL. 

pose  of  satisfied   exertion  ;    the  happy  looking  back 
upon  work  done,  after  the  call  for  work  is  over.' 

She  looked  up,  and  kept  looking  up  ;  but  she  did  not 
speak.  Somehow  the  new  combinations  of  these  last 
weeks  had  made  her  sober ;  she  did  not  get  used  to 
them.  The  little  wayward  scraps  of  song  had  been 
silent,  and  the  quick  speeches  did  not  come. 

'  But  then,'  Rollo  went  on  again  presently,  '  then 
comes  up  another  question.  What  is  work  ?  I  mean, 
what  is  work  for  such  people  as  you  and  I  ?  ' 

'  I  suppose,'  said  Hazel,  '  whatever  we  find  to  do.' 

'  I  have  not  found  anything.  Have  you  ?  Those 
clouds  somehow  seem  to  speak  reproach  to  me.  May 
be  that  is  their  business.' 

'  I  have  not  been  looking,'  said  Hazel.  '  You  know 
I  have  been  shut  up  until  this  summer.  But  I  should 
think  you  might  have  found  plenty, — going  among  peo- 
ple as  you  do.' 

1  What  sort  ? ' 

'  Different  sorts,  I  suppose.  At  least  if  you  are  as 
good  at  making  work  for  yourself  in  some  cases  as  you 
are  in  others,'  she  said  with  a  queer  little  recollective 
gleam  in  her  face.  '  Did  it  never  occur  to  you  that  you 
might  set  the  world  straight — and  persuade  its  orbit 
into  being  regular  ? ' 

'  No,'  said  Rollo  carelessly,  '  I  never  undertake  more 
than  I  can  manage.  Here  is  a  good  place  for  a  run.' 

They  had  come  into  the  long  level  lane  which  led  to 
Morton  Hollow  ;  and  giving  their  horses  the  rein  they 
swept  through  the  October  air  in  a  flight  which  scorned 
the  ground.  When  the  banks  of  the  lane  began  to  grow 
higher  and  to  close  in  upon  the  narrowing  roadway, 
which  also  became  crooked  and  irregular,  they  drew 
bridle  again  and  returned  to  earth. 


A   COTTON   MILL.  487 

'  Don't  you  feel  set  straight  now  ? '  said  Rollo. 

'Thank  you — no.' 

'  I  am  afraid  you  will  give  me  some  work  to  do,  yet,' 
said  he  audaciously,  and  putting  his  hand  out  upon 
Wych  Hazel's.  '  Do  not  carry  quite  so  loose  a  rein. 
Jeannie  is  sure,  I  believe,  and  you  are  fearless ;  but  you 
should  always  let  her  know  you  are  there.' 

'  Mr.  Rollo — '  said  the  girl  hastily.  Then  she  stop- 
ped. 

'What? '  said  Rollo  innocently,  riding  close  alongside 
and  looking  her  hard  in  the  face.  '  I  am  here.' 

'  Nothing.' 

Then  he  changed  his  tone  and  said  gently,  '  What 
was  it,  Miss  Hazel  ? ' 

'  Something  better  unsaid.' 

He  was  silent  a  minute,  and  went  on  gravely — 

'You  wanted  to  know  why  I  interfered  the  other 
night,  as  I  did  ;  and  I  promised,  I  believe,  to  explain  it 
to  you  when  I  had  an  opportunity.  I  will,  if  you  bid 
me  ;  but  I  may  do  the  people  injustice,  and  I  would 
rather  you  took  the  view  of  an  unprejudiced  person — 
Mr.  Falkirk,  for  instance.  But  if  you  wish  it,  I  will  tell 
you  myself.' 

'  No,'  she  said  ;  'I  do  not  wish  it.' 

Rollo  was  quite  as  willing  to  let  the  matter  drop  ; 
and  in  a  few  minutes  more  they  were  at  the  mill  he  had 
proposed  to  visit.  There  they  dismounted,  the  horses 
were  sent  on  to  the  bend  in  the  valley,  beyond  the 
mills  ;  and  presenting  a  pass,  Rollo  and  Wych  Hazel 
were  admitted  into  the  building,  where  strangers  rarely 
came.  One  of  the  men  in  authority  was  known  to  Mr. 
Rollo  ;  he  presented  himself  now,  and  with  much  civil- 
ity ushered  them  through  the  works. 


488  WYCH    HAZEL. 

They  made  a  slow  progress  of  it ;  full  of  interest,  be 
cause  full  of  intelligent  appreciation.  Perhaps,  in  the 
the  abstract,  one  would  not  expect  to  find  a  gay  young 
man  of  the  world  versed  in  the  intricacies  of  a  cotton 
mill ;  but  however  it  were,  Rollo  had  studied  the  sub- 
ject, and  was  now  bent  on  making  Wych  Hazel  under- 
stand al!  the  beautiful  details  of  the  machinery  and  the 
curiosities  of  the  manufacture.  This  was  a  new  view 
of  him  to  his  companion.  He  took  endless  pains  to 
make  her  familiar  with  the  philosophy  of  the  subject,  as 
well  as  its  history.  Patient  and  gentle  and  evidently 
not  in  the  least  thinking  of  himself,  his  grey  eyes  were 
ever  searching  in  Wych  Hazel's  face  to  see  whether  she 
comprehended  and  how  she  enjoyed  what  he  was  giving 
her.  As  to  the  relations  between  them,  his  manner  all  the 
while,  as  well  as  during  the  ride,  was  very  much  what 
it  had  been  before  the  disclosure  made  by  Mrs.  Coles 
had  sent  Wych  Hazel  off  on  a  tangent  of  alienation 
from  him.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  watch  kept  over 
her,  or  the  care  taken  of  her ;  and  neither  could  make 
less  demonstration.  There  was  also  the  same  quiet  as- 
sumption of  her,  which  had  been  in  his  manner  for  so 
long  ;  that  also  was  never  officiously  displayed,  though 
never  wanting  when  there  was  occasion.  And  now,  in 
the  mill,  all  these  went  along  with  that  courtier-like 
deference  of  style,  which  paid  her  all  the  honour  that 
manner  could  ;  yet  it  was  the  deference  of  one  very  near 
and  not  of  one  far  off. 

Wych  Hazel  for  her  part  shewed  abundant  power  of 
interest  and  of  understanding,  in  their  progress  through 
the  mill  ;  quick  to  catch  explanations,  quick  to  see  the 
beauty  of  some  fine  bit  of  machinery ;  but  very  quiet. 
Her  eyes  hardly  ever  rose  to  the  level  of  his ;  her 


A  COTTON   MILL.  489 

questions  were  a  little  more  free  to  the  conductor  than 
to  him.  Even  her  words  and  smiles  to  the  mill  people 
seemed  to  wait  for  times  when  his  back  was  turned,  as 
if  she  Were  shy  of  in  any  wise  displaying  herself  before 
him. 

Their  progress  through  the  mill  was  delayed  further 
by  Rollo's  interest  in  the  operatives.  A  rather  sad  in- 
terest this  had  need  to  be.  The  men,  and  the  women, 
employed  as  hands  in  the  works,  were  lank  and  pale  and 
haggard,  or  dark  and  coarse.  Their  faces  were  reserved 
and  gloomy  ;  eyes  would  not  light  up,  even  when  spoken 
to  ;  and  Rollo  tried  the  expedient  pretty  often.  Yet  the 
children  were  the  worst.  Little  things,  and  others  older, 
but  all  worn-looking,  sadly  pale,  very  hopeless,  going 
back  and  forth  at  their  work  like  so  many  parts  of  the 
inexorable  machinery.  Here  Rollo  now  and  then  got  a 
smile,  that  gleamed  out  as  a  rare  thing  in  that  atmos- 
phere. On  the  whole,  the  outer  air  seemed  strange  and 
sweet  to  the  two  when  they  came  out  into  it,  and  not 
more  sweet  than  strange.  Where  they  had  been,  surely 
the  beauty,  and  the  freedom,  and  the  promise,  of  the 
pure  oxygen  and  the  blue  heaven,  were  all  shut  out  and 
denied  and  forgotten. 

'  There  is  work  for  somebody  to  do,'  said  Rollo 
thoughtfully,  when  the  mill  door  was  shut  behind  them. 

The  girl  looked  at  him  gravely,  then  away. 

'Do  all  mill  people  look  so  ?'  she  said.  '  Or  is  it  just 
Morton  Hollow  ? ' 

'  They  do.  not  all  look  so.  At  least  I  am  told  this  is 
a  very  uncommon  case  for  this  country.  Yet  no  doubt 
there  are  others,  and  it  is  not — "  just  Morton  Hollow." 
Suppose,  for  the  sake  of  argument,  that  all  mill  people 
look  so  ;  what  deduction  would  you  draw  ? ' 


490  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Well,  that  I  should  like  to  have  the  mills,'  said  Wych 
Hazel. 

They  walked  slowly  on  through  the  Hollow.  The 
place  was  still  and  empty ;  all  the  hands  being  in  the 
mills ;  the  buzz  of  machinery  within,  as  they  passed  one, 
was  almost  the  only  sound  abroad.  The  cottages  were 
forlorn  looking  places ;  set  anywhere,  without  reference 
to  the  consideration  whether  space  for  a  garden  ground 
was  to  be  had.  No  such  thing  as  a  real  garden  could 
be  seen.  No  flowers  bloomed  anywhere  ;  no  token  of 
life's  comfort  or  pleasure  hung  about  the  poor  dwellings. 
Poverty  and  dirt  and  barrenness  ;  those  three  facts  struck 
the  visitor's  eye  and  heart.  A  certain  degree  of  neat- 
ness and  order  indeed  was  enforced  about  the  road  and 
the  outside  of  the  houses  ;  nothing  to  give  the  feeling  of 
the  sweet  reality  within.  The  only  person  they  saw  to 
speak  to  was  a  woman  sitting  at  an  open  door  crying 
It  would  not  have  occurred  to  most  people  that  she  was 
one  'to  speak  to' ;  however,  Rollo  stepped  a  little  out 
of  the  road  to  open  communication  with  her.  His  com- 
panion followed,  but  the  words  were  German. 

'  What  is  the  matter  ? '  she  asked  as  they  turned  to  go 
on  their  way. 

'  Do  you  remember  the  girl  that  came  to  Gyda's  that 
day  you  were  there  ?  this  is  her  mother.  Triidchen, 
she  says,  has  been  sick  for  two  weeks ;  very  ill ;  she  has 
just  begun  to  sit  up  ;  and  her  father  has  driven  her  to 
mill  work  again  this  morning.  The  mother  says  she 
knows  the  girl  will  die.' 

'  Driven  her  to  work  ! '  said  Hazel.     '  What  for  ? ' 

'  Money.     For  her  wages.' 

'What  nonsense!'  said  Hazel,  knitting  her  brows. 
'Why,  I  can  pay  that !  Tell  her  so,  please,  will  you  ? 


A   COTTON    MILL.  491 

And  tell  her  to  send  Triidchen  down  to  Chickaree  for 
Mrs.  Bywank  and  me  to  cure  her  up.  She  will  never 
get  well  here.' 

Rollo  gave  a  swift  bright  look  at  his  companion,  and 
then  made  three  leaps  up  the  bank  to  the  cottage  door. 
He  came  down  again  smiling,  but  there  was  a  suspicious 
veiling  of  his  sharp  eyes. 

'  She  will  cry  no  more  to-day,'  he  remarked  to  Wych 
Hazel.  '  And  now  you  have  done  some  work.' 

'  Have  I  ? ' — with  a  half  laugh.  '  But  instead  of  want- 
ing to  rest,  I  feel  like  doing  some  more.  So  you  have 
made  a  mistake  somewhere,  Mr.  Rollo.' 

There  came  as  she  spoke,  a  buzz  of  other  voices, 
issuing  from  another  mill  just  before  them ;  voices 
trained  in  the  higher  notes,  and  knowing  little  of  the 
minor  key.  And  forth  from  the  opening  door  came 
a  gay  knot  of  people, — -feathers  and  flowers  and 
colours,  with  a  black  coat  here  and  there  ;  one  of  which 
made  a  short  way  to  Miss  Kennedy's  side. 

'  Where  have  you  been  ? '  said  Captain  Lancaster, 
after  a  courteous  recognition  of  Mr.  Rollo.  '  You  have 
been  driving  us  all  to  despair  ?  ' 

'  People  that  are  driven  to  despair  never  go,'  said 
Wych  Hazel  ;  '  so  you  are  all  safe.' 

'  And  you  are  all  yourself.  That  is  plain.  Why 
were  you  not  at  Fox  Hill  ?  But  you  are  coming  to 
Valley  Garden  to-morrow  ? ' 

'  I  think  not.     At  least,  I  am  sure  not. 

'Then  to  the  ball  at  Crocus  ? ' 

'No.' 

'  My  dear  Hazel  ! '  and  '  My  dear  Miss   Kennedy  ! 
now  sounded  from  so  many  female  voices  in  different 
keys  of  surprise  and  triumph,  that  for  a  minute   or  two 


492  WYCH    HAZEL. 

the  hum  was  indistinguishable.  Questions  came  on  the 
heels  of  one  another  incongruously.  Then  as  the 
gentlemen  fell  together  in  a  knot  to  discuss  their  horses, 
the  tongues  of  the  women  had  a  little  more  liberty  than 
was  good  for  them. 

'  You  have  been  riding,  Hazel ;  where  are  your  horses  ? ' 

'  Where  have  you  been  ? ' 

'  O,  you've  been  going  over  a  mill !  A  cotton  mill  ? 
Horrid  !  What  is  the  fun  of  a  cotton  mill  ?  what  did 
you  go  there  for  ? ' 

'  What  sort  of  a  mill  have  you  been  over  ? '  said 
Hazel. 

'  O,  the  silk  mill.  Such  lovely  colours,  and  cunning 
little  silk-winders, — itrs  so  funny !  But  where  have  you 
been  all  this  age,  Hazel  ?  you  have  been  nowhere.' 

'  I  know  what  has  happened,'  said  Josephine  Powder, 
looking  half  vexed  and  half  curious, — '  you  needn't  tell 
me  anything.  When  a  lady  sees  almost  nobody  and 
goes  riding  with  the  rest,  we  know  what  that  means.  It's 
transparent.' 

'I  wouldn't  conclude  upon  it,  Hazel,'  said  another 
lady.  '  A  man  that  had  got  a  habit  of  command  by  be- 
ing one's  guardian,  you  know,  wouldn't  leave  it  off  easy. 
Would  he,  Mrs.  Powder?' 

'  Are  we  to  congratulate  you,  my  clear  ? '  asked  the 
ex-Governor's  lady,  with  a  civil  smile,  and  an  eye  to  the 
answer. 

'  Really,  ma'am,  I  see  no  present  occasion  ? '  said 
Hazel,  with  more  truth  than  coolness. 

'  She  sees  no  occasion  ! '  cried  Josephine.  '  Well,  I 
shouldn't  either  in  her  place.'  (Which  was  a  clear 
statement  that  grapes  were  sour.)  '  Poor  child !  Are 
you  chained  up  for  good,  Hazel  ? ' 


A   COTTON   MILL.  493 

'  Hush,  Josephine  ? '  said  her  mother,  who  was  a  well- 
bred  woman;  such  women  can  have  such  daughters 
now-a-days.  And  she  went  on  to  invite  Hazel  to  join  a 
part)  that  were  going  in  the  afternoon  to  visit  a  famous 
look-out  height,  called  Beacon  Hill.  She  begged  Hazel 
to  come  for  luncheon,  and  the  excursion  afterwards. 

'  Do  say  yes,  please  ! '  said  Captain  Lancaster,  turning 
from  the  other  group.  '  You  have  said  nothing  but  no 
for  the  last  month.' 

'  Well,  if  being  a  negative  means  that  one  is  not  also 
a  positive — '  Hazel  began. 

'And  then,  oh  Miss  Kennedy,'  broke  in  Molly  Seaton, 
'  there's  this  new  Englishman  ! —  ' 

'  A  new  Englishman  ! — ' 

'  Yes,'  said  Molly,  unconscious  why  the  rest  laughed; 
'  and  he's  seen  you  at  church.  And  he  has  vowed  he 
will  not  go  home  till  he  has  seen  you  in  the  German.' 

'  Has  he  ? '  said  Hazel.     '  I  hope  he  likes  America.' 

They  gathered  round  her  at  that,  in  a  breeze  of 
laughter  and  entreaty,  till  her  shy  gravity  gave  way,  and 
Mr.  Rollo's  ears  were  saluted  by  such  a  musical  laugh 
as  he  had  not  heard  for  many  a  day. 

'  He'll  be  here  presently,'  said  Molly.  '  He's  up  in 
the  mill  with  Kitty  Fisher.  So  you  can  ask  him  yourself, 
Miss  Kennedy.' 

Rollo  heard,  and  purposely  held  himself  a  little  back, 
and  continued  a  conversation  he  did  not  attend  to;  he 
would  not  be  more  of  a  spoil-sport  than  he  could 
help. 

'  You'll  come,  won't  you,  Hazel  ? '  said  Josephine.  '  I 
will  be  very  good  if  you  will  come.' 

Hazel  balanced  probabilities  for  one  swift  second. 

'  That  is  too  large  a  promise,  Phinny — I   would  not 


494  WYCH    HAZEL. 

make  it.  But  I  will  come,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Powder. 
Only  not  to  luncheon.  I  will  drive  over  this  afternoon, 
and  meet  you  at  the  hill.' 

'  Why,  here  is  our  dear  Duchess  ! '  cried  Kitty  Fisher 
rushing  up.  '  And  where  is  the — ahem  ! — Mr.  Rollo,  1 
am  delighted  to  see  you.  Miss  Kennedy,  allow  me  to 
present  Sir  Henry  Crafton.' 

Wych  Hazel  bowed,  and  turning  towards  Mr.  Rollo, 
remarked  that  if  she  was  to  come  back,  she  must  go. 
Rollo  was  also  invited  to  Beacon  Hill,  but  excused  him- 
self ;  and  he  and  Wych  Hazel  left  the  others,  to  go  for- 
ward to  find  their  horses. 

On  the  ride  home  he  made  himself  particularly  pleas- 
ant ;  talking  about  matters  which  he  contrived  to  present 
in  very  entertaining  fashion  ;  ignoring  the  people  and  the 
insinuations  they  had  left  behind  them  in  the  Hollow, 
and  drawing  Wych  Hazel,  so  far  as  he  could,  into  a  free 
meeting  of  him  on  neutral  ground.  They  had  another 
run  through  the  lane  ;  a  good  trot  over  the  highway  ; 
and  when  they  had  entered  the  gate  of  Chickaree  and 
were  slowly  mounting  the  hill,  he  spoke  in  another  tone. 

'  Miss  Hazel,  don't  you  think  you  have  done  enough 
for  to-day  ? ' 

'  Made  a  good  beginning.' 

'  Twenty-four  miles  on  horseback — and  a  cotton  mill ! 
That  is  enough  for  one  day,  isn't  it,  for  you  ? ' 

'  Twenty-four,  is  it  ? '  she  said  carelessly.  '  Call  it  four, 
and  my  feeling  will  not  contradict  you.' 

'  Very  well.  I  want  your  feeling  to  remain  in  the 
same  healthy  condition.' 

'  It  always  does.' 

'  Beacon  Hill  will  not  run  away.  Leave  that  for 
another  time.  It  is  a  good  day's  work  for  you,  that  alone 


A   COTTON    MILL.  495 

Suppose  we  go  there  to-morrow  ? '  said  Rollo  coolly, 
looking  at  his  companion. 

'  Well — if  I  like  it  well  enough  to-day.' 

Dane  was  silent,  probably  feeling  that  his  duty  as 
Miss  Kennedy's  guardian  was  in  the  way  of  doing  him 
very  frequent  disservice.  However  he  was  not  a  man 
to  be  swayed  by  that  consideration.  He  came  close 
alongside  of  Jeannie  Deans  and  looked  hard  in  Wych 
Hazel's  face  as  he  spoke, 

'  Do  you  think  Mr.  Falkirk  would  be  willing  to  have 
you  go  to-day  ? ' 

'  Why,  of  course  ! ' 

'  I  think  he  would  not.     And  I  think  he  ought  not.' 

'  Mr.  Falkirk  never  interferes  with  my  strength  or 
my  fatigue  ! —  ' 

'  I  shall  not  ask  him.  I  take  the  matter  on  my  own 
responsibility.' 

She  had  thrown  her  veil  back  for  a  minute,  and  leav- 
ing the  bridle  on  Jeannie's  neck,  both  little  hands  were 
busy  with  some  wind-disturbed  rings  of  hair.  She  put 
them  down  now  and  looked  round  at  him, — a  look  of  great 
beauty  ;  the  girlish  questioning  eyes  too  busy  with  him, 
for  the  moment,  to  be  afraid.  Could  he  mean  that? 
was  he  really  trying  to  head  her  off  in  every  direction  ? 

'  Are  you  in  earnest  ? '  she  said  slowly. 

His  eyes  went  very  deep  into  hers  when  they  got  the 
chance,  carrying  their  own  message  too.  He  answered 
with  a  half  smile, 

'Thorough  earnest.' 

She  drew  back  instantly,  eyes  and  all;  letting  fall  her 
veil  and  taking  up  her  bridle.  Except  so,  and  by  the 
sudden  colour,  giving  no  reply.  She  was  learning  her 
lesson  fast,  she  thought,  a  little  bitterly.  Nevertheless, 


496  WYCH   HAZEL. 

if  people  knew  the  exquisite  grace  there  can  be  in  sub- 
mission, whether  to  authority  or  to  circumstances,  it  may 
be  they  would  practise  it  oftener. 

Not  another  word  said  Rollo.  What  was  the  use  ? 
She  would  understand  him  some  day ; — or  she  would 
not !  in  any  case,  words  would  not  make  it  clear.  Only 
when  he  took  her  down  from  her  horse  he  asked,  and 
that  was  with  a  smile  too,  and  a  good  inquisition  of  the 
grey  eyes,  '  if  he  should  come  to  take  her  to  Beacon  Hill 
to-morrow  ? ' 

'  No,'  she  said  quietly.    '  I  think  not.' 
'  When  will  you  have  another  riding  lesson  ? ' 
'  I  do  not  know,'  she  said,  with  a  tone  that  left  the 
matter  very  doubtful. 

'  Well,'  said  he,'  '  you  may  go  to  Beacon  Hill  without 
me.     But  you  must  not  try  leaping.     Remember  that. 
He  did  not  go  in.     He  remounted  and  rode  away. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

SOMETHING    NEW. 

SO  Jeannie  Deans  went  back  into  the  stable,  and  car 
ried  her  light  burden  no  more  for  some  time.  But 
Hazel  did  not  go  to  Beacon  Hill,  in  any  fashion  nor  on 
any  day  ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  Jeannie  Deans  was  less 
restless  than  she. 

'  Miss  Wych — my  dear  ! '  said  Mrs.  Bywank  in  remon- 
strance ;  'if  you  cannot  sit  still,  why  don't  you  go  out? 
You  are  just  wearing  yourself  pale  in  the  house  ;  and 
why,  I  do  not  see.' 

'  Nobody  sees — '  said  the  girl  with  a  long  breath. 
.'  My  wings  are  clipped,  Byo, — that  is  all.' 

'  My  dear  !  '  Mrs.  Bywank  said  again.  '  I  think  you 
shouldn't  talk  so,  Miss  Wych.' 

'  Very  likely  not,'  said  Hazel.  '  But  if  ever  I  am  a  real 
runaway,  Byo,  it  will  be  for  the  sake  of  choosing  my 
own  ruler.  So  you  can  remember.' 

'  Miss  Wych — '  Mrs.  Bywank  began,  gravely.  Ha- 
zel came  and  flung  herself  down  on  the  floor,  and  laid 
head  on  the  old  housekeeper's  lap. 

'  O,  I  know  ! '  she  said.  '  Why  did  they  ever  call  me 
so,  Byo  ?  I  think  it  hangs  over  me  like  a  fate.  Could 
they  find  no  other  name  for  their  little  brown  baby  but 
that  ?  I  can  no  more  help  being  a  witch,  than  I  can 
he'p  breathing' 

32 


498  WYCH    HAZEL. 

The  old  housekeeper  stroked  the  young  head  tenderly, 
softly  parting  and  smoothing  down  the  hair. 

'  They  liked  the  name,  my  dear,'  she  said.  '  And  so 
would  you,  if  you  could  remember  the  tone  in  which 
Mrs.  Kennedy  used  to  say :  "  My  Wych  !  " — "  My  little 
Wych  !  "— ' 

Hazel  sprang  away  as  if  the  words  had  been  a  flight 
of  arrows. 

And  so  the  fall  went  on  ;  and  since  Miss  Kennedy 
would  stay  at  home,  perforce  the  world  must  come  to  see 
her  there  ;  and  the  old  house  at  least  sounded  gay  enough. 
And  then  society  began  slowly  to  steal  away  to  winter 
quarters.  The  two  young  officers  went  back  to  their 
posts,  without  even  a  hope  (it  was  said)  that  might  make 
them  ever  return  again  to  the  neighborhood  of  Chickaree. 
And  Mr.  May  sailed  for  Europe,  having  a  gentle  dismiss- 
al from  the  little  hands  for  which  he  cared  so  much  • 
and  the  Powders  departed  to  ex-official  duties  ;  and 
Mine.  Lasalle  to  town.  The  leaves  fell,  having  done 
their  sweet  summer  duty  far  better  than  these  rational  . 
creatures  ;  and  then  Wych  Hazel  took  to  long  early  and 
late  walks  by  herself,  threading  the  leafless  woods,  and 
keeping  out  of  roads  and  choosing  by-paths  ;  wandering 
and  thinking — both — more  than  was  good  for  her  ;  and 
enjoying  just  one  thing,  the  being  alone. 

Rollo  all  this  while  had  kept  the  promise  he  made 
when  he  told  her  that  he  would  see  her  and  meant  she 
should  see  him.  He  came  very  frequently  ;  he  rode  with 
her  if  she  would  ride,  and  talked  with  her  when  she 
•would  talk ;  or  he  talked  to  Mr.  Falkirk  in  her  hearing. 
He  sometimes  gave  her  riding  lessons.  Whatever  her 
mood,  he  was  just  himself ;  free,  pleasant  and  watchful 
of  her  ;  sometimes  a  little  Spanish  in  his  treatment  of 


SOMETHING    NEW.  499 

her.  Her  clouds  did  not  seem  to  put  him  in  shadow. 
And  she  would  not  always  refuse  a  lesson,  or  a  ride,  or 
a  talk, — it  was  not  in  her  nature  to  be  ungraceful  or 
rough  in  any  way  ;  only  it  could  not  be  said  that  she 
took  pleasure  in  them,  as  a  certain  thing.  They  broke 
up  the  intolerable  loneliness  of  her  life  just  then,  but 
otherwise  were  not  always  a  success.  Constantly  now 
expecting  to  be  drawn  back,  or  ordered  back,  as  she 
phrased  it ;  expecting  forbidden  things  at  every  turn  ; 
she  did  not  want  to  be  alone  with  Mr.  Rollo,  nor  to  go 
with  other  people  where  he  might  come.  In  fact,  she 
did  not  quite  understand  herself ;  and  she  grew  more 
and  more  restless  and  eager  to  get  away. 

'  Why  should  we  not  go  on  Monday  ? '  she  asked  Mr. 
Falkirk. 

'  Go  ?'  echoed  her  guardian.  '  Are  we  to  take  up  our 
travels  again,  my  dear  ? ' 

'  Did  you  suppose  yourself  settled  for  the  winter,  sir? 
I  expect  to  go  to  town,  like  other  people.' 

'  What  are  we  to  do  when  we  get  there  ? ' 

'  Keep  house,  sir.  You  can  take  one-half  the  bricks, 
and  I  the  other.  Or  any  proportions  that  may  suit  your 
views/  said  Miss  Hazel  compliantly. 

Now  Mr.  Falkirk  did  not,  it  is  true,  understand  the 
course  things  had  taken  for  the  last  few  weeks ;  he  was 
only  a  man  ;  and  though  Wych  Hazel's  guardian  for 
many  years  might  be  supposed  to  hold  a  clue  to  her 
moods,  this  was  what  Mr.  Falkirk  failed  to  do  in  the 
present  instance.  But  using  his  wits  as  well  as  he  was 
able,  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion,  not  without  some 
secret  gratification,  that  Miss  Hazel  preferred  the  society 
of  her  old  guardian  to  that  of  her  new  one.  Certainly 
he  was  in  no  mind  to  cross  her  wish  to  go  to  the  city,  if 


50O  WYCH    HAZEL. 

she  had  such  a  wish.  However,  mindful  of  his  duty, 
he  mentioned  her  desire  to  Rollo,  and  asked  if  he  had 
any  objection  to  it.  Rollo  was  silent  a  minute,  and  then 
gave  a  frank  '  No.'  And  Mr.  Falkirk  wrote  to  make  ar- 
rangements, and  even  went  himself  to  perfect  them.  And 
he  lost  no  time  ;  by  the  end  of  October  the  change  was 
made,  and  Wych  Hazel  established  in  a  snug  little  house 
in  one  of  the  best  streets  on  Murray  Hill. 

If  Mr.  Falkirk  was  misled  before,  his  mind  was  not 
likely  to  clear  up  as  the  weeks  went  on.  Whatever  had 
come  over  his  ward,  she  was  unmistakably  changed  from 
her  old  self  ;  as  now,  living  in  the  house  with  her  again, 
Mr.  Falkirk  could  not  fail  to  perceive.  Quiet  steps,  a 
gentle  voice  that  quite  ignored  its  old  bursts  of  singing  ; 
brown  eyes  that  looked  softly  through  things  and  people 
at  something  else  ;  with  a  mood  docile  because  it  did  not 
care  :  but  that  he  did  not  know.  Apparently  she  had 
not  come  to  town  for  stir, — her  going  out  was  of  the 
quietest  kind.  Sometimes  a  specially  fine  concert  would 
tempt  her ;  once  in  a  while  she  made  one  of  her  radiant 
toilettes  and  went  to  a  state  dinnerparty,  now  and  then 
to  a  lunch  or  a  kettle-drum ;  but  balls  and  evening  par- 
ties of  every  sort  were  invariably  declined.  Instead,  she 
plunged  into  study, — went  at  German  as  if  her  life  de- 
pended on  it,  took  up  her  Italian  again,  and  began  to 
perfect  herself  in  French.  Read  history,  knit  her  brows 
over  science,  and  sat  and  drew  by  the  hour. 

Of  course  society  could  not  quite  be  baffled  so : 
mornings  brought  carriage  after  carriage,  apd  evenings 
a  run  upon  the  door.  Mr.  Falkirk  had  little  peace  of 
his  life,  unless  it  were  a  reposeful  thing  for  him  to  sit 
by  and  see  the  play. 

Between  whiles  this  winter,  Hazel  did  a  great  deal  of 


SOMETHING   NEW.  501 

thinking:  even  German  could  not  crowd  it  out.  She 
knew,  the  minute  she  had  said  she  would  come  to  town, 
that  she  wished  something  could  step  in  and  keep  her 
at  Chickaree  ;  or  at  least  she  knew  that  she  was  leaving 
more  there  than  she  had  counted  upon  ;  and  the  knowl- 
edge chafed  her.  It  was  all  very  well  to  like — some- 
body— (name  of  course  unknown) — to  a  certain  degree ; 
but  when  the  liking  made  itself  into  bonds  and  ties  and 
hindrances,  then  Miss  Wych  rebelled.  She  brought 
up  all  sorts  of  questions  in  the  most  unattractive  shape, 
to  find  them  suited  with  answers  that  could  find  no 
reply.  It  was  simply  unbearable,  she  urged  upon  her- 
self, this  being  held  in  and  watcbed  and  restricted,— 
very  unbearable  !  Only,  somehow,  the  person  who  did 
it  all,  was  not.  And  the  doubt  whether  life  would  be 
worth  having,  in  such  guardianship,  started  a  more 
difficult  point :  what  would  it  be  worth  without  ?  And 
the  mental  efforts  to  shake  herself  into  clear  order,  just 
seemed,  as  sometimes  happens,  to  tie  three  knots  where 
there  was  one  before. 

'  It  will  go  after  a  while,'  she  said,  twisting  herself 
about  under  the  new  form  of  loneliness  and  unrest  which 
possessed  her  when  she  got  to  town.  And  it  did  :  deep- 
er in. 

Mr.  Falkirk,  blind  bat  that  he  was  (for  a  sharp-sight- 
ed man),  was  not  discontented  with  his  winter.  He 
had  Wych  Hazel  to  himself,  and  she  gave  him  no  more 
trouble  than  he  liked  by  the  force  of  old  associations. 
He  watched  the  play  in  which  she  was  so  prominent 
and  so  pretty  a  figure,  and  found  it  amusing.  It  seemed 
safe  play,  so  far ;  the  fort  that  he  was  set  to  keep  seem- 
ed quite  secure  from  any  attacks  that  presently  threat- 
ened;  and  Mr.  Falkirk  had  no  suspicion  that  its  safety 


502  WYCH    HAZEL. 

was  owing  to  a  garrison  within  the  walls.  The  outside 
he  knew  he  watched  well.  It  was  a  very  quiet  winter, 
indeed,  except  at  such  times  as  Miss  Kennedy's  doors 
were  open  to  all  comers  ;  but  Mr.  Falkirk  did  not  find 
fault  with  that.  He  had  never  been  garrulous  in  his 
ward's  company  or  in  any  other.  Certainly  he  liked 
to  hear  her  talk  ;  and  he  knew  that  she  talked  far  less 
than  usual,  when  they  were  alone ;  but  he  argued  with 
himself  that  Wych  Hazel  was  growing  older,  was  seri- 
ously engaging  herself  in  study,  after  other  than  a  school- 
girl's fashion  ;  and  that  all  this  winter's  development 
was  but  the  sweet  maturing  of  the  fruit  which  in  grow- 
ing mature  was  losing  somewhat  of  its  liveliness  of  fla- 
vour. 

They  were  alone  one  evening,  rather  past  the  middle 
of  the  winter.  It  was  not  one  of  Miss  Kennedy's  at- 
home  nights;  and  in  a  snug  little  drawing-room  the 
two  were  seated  on  opposite  sides  of  the  tea  service.  A 
fire  of  soft  coal  burning  luxuriously ;  thick  curtains 
drawn  ;  warm-coloured  paperhangings  on  the  walls ; 
silver  bright  in  the  gaslight,  and  Mr.  Falkirk's  evening 
papers  ready  at  his  hand.  To-night  Mr.  Falkirk  rather 
neglected  them,  and  seemed  to  be  in  a  meditative 
mood. 

'  Whereabouts  are  we  in  pursuit  of  our  fortune,  Miss 
Hazel  ?'  he  asked  as  he  tasted  his  cup  of  hot  tea. 

'  Rather  deep  down  in  Schiller  and  Dante,  sir.' 

'//  Paradiso  T  asked  Mr.  Falkirk  meaningly. 

'Pray  do  you  call  that  "deep  down"?'  demanded 
Miss  Hazel. 

'  I  am  merely  inquiring  where  you  are,  my  dear.  I 
have  heard  of  people's  being  over  head  and  ears.' 

1  Only  hearsay  evidence,  sir  ?'  said  Miss  Hazel  reck- 


SOMETHING   NEW.  503 

lessly.  But  then  she  was  not  going  to  stand  up  and  be 
shot  at ! 

'  I  should  like  to  know,  merely  as  a  satisfaction  to  my 
own  mind,  whether  the  quest  is  ended,  Miss  Hazel  ? 
Has  Cinderella's  glass  slipper  been  fitted  on  ?  or  has 
Quickear  seized  the  singing  bird  and  the  golden  wa- 
ter?' 

'  Princes  are  scarce  !'  said  the  girl  derisively,  but  not 
without  a  rising  blush. 

'  The  true  one  not  found  yet,  my  dear  ?'  said  Mr. 
Falkirk  with  an  amused  glance  across  the  table.  '  What 
is  to  be  our  next  move  in  search  of  him  ?' 

'  That  is  one  way  of  putting  it,'  said  \Vych  Hazel.  '  I 
should  think,  sir,  you  had  taken  lessons  of  your  devotee, 
Miss  Fisher. 

'  I  am  glad  you  don't,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk  earnestly. 
'Miss  Hazel,  I  should  prefer  that  when  such  princesses 
are  in  the  parlour,  Cinderella  should  keep  to  her  kitchen. 
It  is  the  court  end  in  such  a  case.' 

Kitty  Fisher's  name  brought  up  visions.  Hazel  was 
silent. 

'  Do  you  ever  hear  from  Chickaree  ? '  her  guardian 
asked  presently. 

'  No  one  to  write,  sir,  but  Mrs.  Bywank, — and  she, 
you  know,  is  not  a  scribe.  I  understand  that  the  kitten 
is  well.' 

'  That  is  important,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  She  hasn't 
told  you  lately  anything  about  your  friend  Rollo  ? ' 

'  No,  Sir.  Have  you  given  up  your  share  in  his 
friendship  ? '  inquired  Miss  Hazel. 

Mr.  Falkirk  made  no  answer  to  this  query,  and  seem- 
ed to  have  forgotten  it  presently  in  his  musings.  Hazel 
glanced  at  him  furtively,  choosing  her  form  of  attack  ; 


504  WYCH   HAZEL. 

for  Mr.  Falkirk's  manner  seemed  to  say  that  he  had 
heard. 

'  You  always  played  into  each  other's  hands  so  delight- 
fully, sir,'  she  began,  with  a  very  degage  air, — '  it  is  of 
course  natural  that  he  should  keep  you  posted  as  to  his 
own  important  proceedings.  And  a  little  ungrateful  in 
you,  Mr.  Falkirk,  I  must  say,  to  fling  him  off  in  this 
fashion.' 

'  I've  nothing  on  my  conscience  respecting  him,'  said 
Mr.  P'alkirk,  eating  his  toast  with  a  contented  air.  'I'm 
not  his  guardian,  nor  ever  was.' 

'  What  a  pity ! '  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Both  of  us  to- 
gether might  have  made  your  life  more  lively  than  my 
unassisted  efforts  could  do.' 

Mr.  Falkirk  grunted,  and  went  on  with  his  tea  ;  and 
sent  his  cup  to  be  refilled. 

Hazel  pondered. 

'  You  seem  depressed,  Mr.  Falkirk,'  she  said.  '  Shall 
I  give  yeu  an  additional  lump  of  sugar  ?  ' 

Now  Mr.  Falkirk  in  truth  seemed  anything  but  de- 
pressed ;  and  he  raised  his  head  to  look  at  his  questioner. 

'  I  am  quite  satisfied  with  things  as  they  are,  Miss 
Hazel.' 

'  Are  you,  sir  ?  I  am  delighted  ! '  said  Hazel.  '  But 
I  never  even  supposed  such  a  thing  possible.  How  are 
"  things" — if  I  may  be  allowed  to  inquire  ?' 

'  Some  things  are  new,'  returned  her  guardian.  '  And 
I  should  not  be  satisfied  with  them,  if  they  concerned 
me.  Which  I  take  for  granted  they  do  not.  I  saw  Dr. 
Arthur  down  town  to-day ;  and  he  told  me  some  odd 
news  about  Rollo.'  Mr.  Falkirk  was  finishing  his  tea  in 
a  leisurely  way,  evidently  not  thinking  that  the  news, 
whatever  it  was,  concerned  either  of  them  seriously. 


SOMETHING    NEW.  505 

1  Why  did  you  not  bring  Dr.  Arthur  home  to  tea  ? ' 
inquired  his  ward. 

'  I  did  not  think  of  it.  Miss  Hazel.  But  he  volunteered 
a.  visit  in  the  course  of  the  evening.' 

'  That  will  be  delightful,— I  like  Dr.  Arthur,'  said 
Hazel,  feeling  that  somehow  or  other  she  must  get  a 
glimpse  of  his  news  before  he  came. 

'  Well,  if  what  he  said  gave  you  so  much  pleasure, 
why  don't  you  repeat  it  to  me,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? '  she  ventured. 

4  I  do  not  remember  that  I  said  anything  gave  me 
pleasure,'  returned  her  guardian.  'This  don't.  By  what 
he  says,  Rollo  has  lost  his  wits.  I  thought  him  a 
shrewd  man  of  business  ;  and  he  was  that,  when  your 
affairs  were  in  his  hand  last  summer  ;  but  if  what  Dr. 
Arthur  tells  me  is  true,  and  it  must  be,  he  has  done  a 
very  strange  thing  with  his  own  fortune.' 

'  Dear  me  !  I  hope  he  did  not  hurt  himself  looking 
after  mine  !  '  said  Wych  Hazel  innocently.  '  Are  fortune 
and  wits  both  in  peril,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ! 

'  Not  yours,  I  hope,'  said  her  guardian.  '  I  should 
be  very  uneasy  if  I  thought  that.  /  should  have  no 
power  to  interfere.  The  will  gives  him  absolute  control, 
supposing  that  he  had  control  at  all.' 

Perhaps  it  was  just  as  well  that  at  this  moment  Dr. 
Arthur  was  announced.  Alas,  not  only  Dr.  Arthur,  but 
Mrs.  Coles !  And  Hazel,  giving  greetings  to  one  and 
welcome  to  the  other  ;  insisting  that  they  should  come 
to  the  tea  table,  late  as  it  was  ;  went  on  all  the  while 
looking  after  her  own  wits  and  picking  up  her  energies 
with  all  speed.  She  had  need  ;  for  the  harmless-seem- 
ing eyes  of  Mrs.  Coles  were  always  awake  to  her  neigh- 
bours' interests.  Very  graciously  now  they  watched 
Wych  Hazel. 


506  WYCH    HAZEL. 

There  was  a  great  deal  to  talk  about,  in  Miss  Ken- 
nedy's house  and  winter  and  engagements  ;  and  in  Dr. 
Maryland's  home,  and  Primrose,  and  her  school.  An 
endless  succession  of  points  of  talk,  that  ought  to 
have  been  very  interesting,  to  judge  by  the  spirit  with 
which  they  were  discussed.  All  the  while,  Wych  Hazel 
was  watching  for  something  else ;  and  Prudentia,  was 
she  keeping  the  best  for  the  last  ?  She  was  extremely 
affable  ;  she  enjoyed  her  tea ;  she  took  off  her  bonnet 
and  displayed  the  pale  bandeaux  of  hair  which  were  in- 
evitably associated  in  Miss  Kennedy's  mind  with  one 
particular  clay  and  conversation  ;  she  admired  the  furni- 
ture; she  discoursed  on  the  advantages  of  city  life. 
Dr.,  Maryland  was,  perforce,  rather  silent. 

'  Well,  Arthur  dear,'  she  said  at  last,  taking  her  bon- 
net, 'we  must  be  going  presently.  What  do  you  think 
of  Dane,  Mr.  Falkirk  ? ' 

Mr.  Falkirk  did  not  answer  intelligibly,- though  the 
lady's  face  was  turned  full  upon  him  ;  he  uttered  an  in- 
explicable sort  of  grunt,  and  knotted  his  eyebrows.  He 
didn't  like  Prudentia. 

'  I  never  saw  anybody  so  changed  in  all  my  life,' 
pursued  the  lady.  '  Such  sudden  changes  are  doubtful 
things,  I  always  think; — come  probably  from  some 
sudden  cause,  and  may  not  last.  But  it  is  very  surpris- 
ing while  it  does  last.' 

'  I  am  sorry  to  contradict  you,  Prudens,'  said  Dr. 
Arthur  here ;  '  but  Dane  was  never  more  himself. 
He  only  happens  to  stand  facing  due  north  instead  of 
north  by  east.' 

'  He  was  "north"  enough  before,'  said  his  sister,  a 
little,  just  a  little  bitterly ;  '  a  trifle  more  of  southern 
direction  wouldn't  have  hurt  him.  But  /think,  he's  out 


SOMETHING   NEW.  507 

of  his  head.  Men  are,  sometimes,  you  know',  she  went 
on,  looking  full  at  Wych  Hazel  now.  '  I  shall  let  Miss 
Kennedy  be  judge.  Do  you  know  what  Dane  has  been 
doing,  Miss  Kennedy?' 

'  Not  waltzing  ? '  said  Hazel,  opening  her  brown  eyes 
with  an  expression  of  mild  dismay  which  was  very  nearly 
loo  much  for  Dr.  Arthur. 

'  Waltzing  ? '  said  Prudentia,  mystified.  '  I  did  not 
say  anything  about  waltzing.  Why  shouldn't  he  waltz  ? 
I  think  he  used.  Why  yes  ;  he  was  a  famous  waltzer. 
Don't  you  waltz,  Miss  Kennedy  ? ' 

'  But  I  was  always  known  to  be  out  of  my  head,'  said 
Hazel.  '  In  what  other-  possible  way  could  Mr.  Rolio 
shew  the  state  of  his  ? ' 

'  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,'  said  Prudentia,  hand- 
ling her  bonnet.  '  Then  you  haven't  heard  my  story 
already.  You  know  that  old  Mr.  Morton  has  failed  ; 
did  you  hear  of  that  ? ' 

'  Not  the  first  time,  is  it  ? '  said  Miss  Kennedy  coolly. 
Dr.  Arthur  bit  his  lips. 

'  Yes,  my  dear  !  it's  the  first  and  only  time ;  he  was 
always  supposed  to  be  a  very  rich  man.  Well,  Dane  has 
taken  his  fortune  and  thrown  it  into  those  mills  !  ' 

'  I  was  afraid  you  were  going  to  say  the  mill  stream,' 
said  Wych  Hazel,  who  was  getting  so  nervous  she  didn't 
know  what  to  do  with  herself  ;  '  but  the  mills  seem  a 
safe  place.' 

'  I  don't  know  but  he'd  better  done  that  of  the  two,' 
said  Prudentia.  'A  safe  place  ?  Why,  my  dear,  just  think  ! 
he  has  bought  all  of  Mr.  Morton's  right  and  title  there  ; 
with  Mr.  Morton's  three  mills.  Of  course,  it  must  have 
taken  very  nearly  his  whole  fortune  ;  it  must: 


508  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  I  fancy  there's  a  trifle  left  over '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 
'  But  I  can't  conceive  what  possessed  him.  What  does 
Rollo  know  of  the  mill  business  ? ' 

'  Nothing  at  all,  of  course,'  said  Prudentia.  '  Nor  of 
any  other  business.  And  he  has  shewed  his  ignorance 
• — did  Arthur  tell  you,  sir,  how  he  has  shewed  it  ? ' 

'  In  buying  three  mills  to  begin  with,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 
'  A  modest  man  would  have  begun  with  one. 

'  But  my  dear  sir,  that  isn't  all.  What  do  you  suppose, 
Miss  Kennedy,  was  his  first  move  ? ' 

'  One  is  prepared  for  almost  anything.' 

'  He  will  learn  the  business,  before  long,'  said  Dr. 
Arthur,  '  if  close  attention  can  do  it.' 

'  What  should  he  learn  the  business  for  ? '  said  his 
sister.  '  He  has  already  all  that  the  mill  business 
could  give  him,  without  any  trouble.  /  think  he's 
troubled  in  his  wits ;  I  do  indeed.  He  was  always  a 
wild  boy,  and  now  he's  a  wilder  man.' 

'  Troubled  in  his  wits !'  said  Dr.  Arthur,  with  such 
supreme  derision,  that  Wych  Hazel  laughed.  To  her 
own  great  relief,  be  it  said. 

'  But  what  is  this  that  he  has  done  ?'  Mr.  Falkirk  in- 
quired, his  brows  looking  very  much  disgusted. 

'  My  dear  sir  !  Fancy  it.  Fancy  it,  Miss  Kennedy. 
The  first  thing  he  did  was  to  raise  the  wages  of  his  hands  /' 

Just  one  person  caught  the  gleam  from  under  Hazel's 
down-cast  eyes, — perhaps  something  made  his  own 
quick-sighted.  Dr.  Arthur  answered  for  her. 

'  They  were  not  half  paid  before,  Mr.  Falkirk.  That 
explains  it.' 

'  Weren't  they  paid  as  other  mill  hands  are  paid,  Dr. 
Arthur  ?' 


SOMETHING    NEW.  509 

'  The  more  need  for  a  change,  then,'  said  the  young 
man,  who  was  a  trifle  Quixotic  himself. 

'  But  if  the  change  is  made  by  one  man  alone,  he 
effects  nothing  but  his  own  ruin. 

'  That  is  what  Dane  is  about,  I  am  firmly  persuaded,' 
said  Mrs.  Coles. 

'  No  man  ever  yet  went  to  ruin  by  doing  right,'  said 
Dr.  Maryland. 

'  Many  a  one  !'  said  Mr.  Falkirk, — '  by  doing  what  he 
thought  right ;  from  John  Brown  up  to  John  Huss,  and 
from  John  Huss  back  to  the  time  when  history  is  lost 
in  a  fog  bank.' 

'  They'll  get  their  reward,  I  suppose,  in  the  other 
world,'  said  Prudentia  comfortably. 

'  How  will  his  ruin  affect  the  poor  mill  people?'  said 
Wych  Hazel,  so  seriously,  that  perhaps  only  Mr.  Falkirk 
— knowing  her — knew  what  she  was  about. 

'  Why,  my  dear,  it  ruins  them  too  in  the  end  ;  that's 
it.  When  he  fails,  of  course  his  improvements  fail,  and 
everything  goes  back  where  it  was  before.  Only  worse.' 

'  Precisely,'  said  Mr  Falkirk.  '  You  cannot  lift  the 
world  out  of  the  grooves  it  runs  in,  by  mere  force ;  and 
he  who  tries,  will  put  his  shoulder  out  of  joint.' 

'  Then  my  picture  of  "  the  loss  of  all  things,"  is  the 
portrait  of  a  ruined  man  !'  said  Wych  Hazel,  with  an 
expressive  glance  at  Dr.  Maryland.  He  smiled. 

'  It  partly  depends,  you  know,  Miss  Kennedy,  upon 
where  the  race  is  supposed  to  end.  But  our  friend  is 
running  well  at  present,  for  both  worlds.' 

'  Arthur,  he  is  not !'  said  his  sister  emphatically. 
'  Paul  and  John  Charteris,  the  other  mill-owners,  hate 
him  as  hard  as  they  can  hate  him  ;  and  if  they  can  ruin 
him,  they  will  ;  that  you  may  depend  upon. ' 


510  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  And  his  own  people  love  him  as  hard  as  they  can, 
— so  that,  even  if  you  allow  one*  rich  mill-owner  to  be 
worth  a  hundred  poor  employe's,  Dane  can  still  strike  a 
fair  balance.' — Rather  more  than  that,  Dr.  Arthur 
thought,  as  his  quick  eyes  took  notice  of  the  little 
screening  hand  that  came  suddenly  up  about  Wych 
Hazel's  mouth  and  chin. 

'  That's  all  nonsense,  Arthur ;  business  is  business, 
and  not  sentiment.  I  never  heard  of  a  cotton  mill  yet 
that  was  run  upon  sentiment ;  nor  did  you.  And  I  tell 
you,  it  won't  pay.  I  am  speaking  of  business  as  busi- 
ness. Paul  and  John  Charteris  will  ruin  Dane,  if  they 
can.' 

'  They  probably  can,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  They  will 
make  a  combination  with  other  mill-owners  and  under- 
sell him  ;  and  paying  less  wages  they  can  afford  to  do 
it,  for  a  time.  And  a  certain  time  will  settle  Rollo's 
business.' 

'  I  think  he  has  lost  his  wits,'  Prudentia  repeated,  for 
the  third  or  fourth  utterance.  '  Then  another  thing 
he  has  done — But  really,  Arthur,  my  dear,  we  must 

go-' 

'  O  tell  us  some  more !'  said  Miss  Kennedy.  '  We 
have  not  heard  of  any  wits  lost  in  this  way,  all  winter ; 
and  it  is  quite  exciting.  What  next,  Mrs.  Coles  ? ' 

Prudentia  laughed. 

'  How  comes  it  he  don't  tell  you  himself  ?  I  thought 
you  used  to  be  such  friends — riding  about  everywhere. 
But  indeed  we  don't  see  much  of  Dane  now  ;  he  lives 
at  his  old  nurse's  ever  so  much  of  the  time  ;  and  comes 
scouring  over  the  country  on  that  bay  horse  of  his,  to 
consult  papa  about  something  ; — but  1  never  see  him, 
except  through  the  window.  Sometimes  he  rides  your 


SOMETHING   NEW.  511 

brown  horse,  I  think,  Miss  Kennedy.     I  suppose  he  is 
keeping  it  in  order  for  you.' 

'  Well,  that  certainly  does  sound  erratic  !'  said  Miss 
Kennedy,  drawing  a  long  breath.  '  I  hope  he  will  con- 
fine all  new-fangled  notions  to  the  bay.' 

'  He  has  taught  that  creature  to  stand  still,'  said  Mrs. 
Coles,  looking  at  her. 

'  That  must  afford  him  immense  satisfaction  !  Rather 
hard  upon  the  bay,  though.' 

'  He  stands  as  still  as  a  mountain,'  Prudentia  went 
on,  carrying  on  meanwhile  privately  a  mental  specula- 
tion about  Wych  Hazel  ; — '  he  stands  like  a  glossy 
statue,  without  being  held,  too  ;  and  comes  when  Dane 
snaps  his  ringers  to  him.' 

'It  only  shews  what  unexpected  docility  exists  in 
some  natures,'  said  Miss  Kennedy  with  an  unreadable 
face. 

'  Come,  Prudens — tell  your  story  and  have  done  !' 
said  Dr.  Arthur,  speaking  now.  '  I  have  an  appoint- 
ment.' 

'  I  am  quite  ready,'  said  Mrs.  Coles  starting  up. 
Dear  me  !  we  have  stayed  an  unconscionable  time,  but 
Miss  Kennedy  will  forgive  us,  being  country  people  and 
going  back  to  the  country  to-morrow.  Prim  says  Dane 
is  coming  down  before  long.' 

'  Tell  your  story  !' 

'  Miss  Kennedy  won't  care  for  it,  and  it  will  ruin 
Dane  with  Mr.  Falkirk.  He  has  introduced  something 
like  English  penny  readings  at  Morton  Hollow,'  said 
Prudentia,  putting  on  her  bonnet  and  turning  towards 
Wych  Hazel's  guardian. 

'What  are  penny  readings  ? '  said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'They  had  their  origin  in  England,  I  believe;  some- 


512  WYCH    HAZEL. 

body  set  them  on  foot  for  the  benefit  of  the  poorer 
classes,  or  work  people  ;  and  Dane  has  imported  them. 
He  receives  the  employes  of  the  mills,'  said  Prudentia, 
chuckling, — '  whoever  will  come  and  pay  a  penny  ;  his 
own  workmen  and  the  others.  The  levee  is  held  on 
Saturday  nights  ;  and  Dane  lays  himself  out  to  amuse 
them  with  reading  to  them  and  singing.  Fancy  it  I 
Fancy  Dane  reading  all  sorts  of  things  to  those  au- 
diences !  and  the  evenings  are  so  interesting,  I  am  told, 
that  they  do  not  disperse  till  eleven  o'clock.  I  believe 
he  has  it  in  contemplation  to  add  the  more  material  re- 
freshment of  sandwiches  and  coffee  as  soon  as  he  gets 
his  arrangements  perfected.  And  he  is  going  to  build, 
as  soon  as  the  spring  opens,  O,  I  don't  know  what ! ' 

'  Fools  build  houses,  and  other  people  live  in  them,' 
said  Mr.  Falkirk. 

'  O,  it's  not  houses  to  live  in — though  I  have  a  notion 
he  is  going  to  do  that  too.  He  lives  with  old  Gyda 
pretty  much  of  the  time.' 

'  Well,'  said  Dr.  Arthur,  looking  at  Mr.  Falkirk  but 
speaking  to  Wych  Hazel,  '  I  need  only  add,  that  my 
father  thoroughly  approves  of  all  Rollo's  work.' 

'  Work  ?— does  he  call  it  "  work"  ? '  said  Wych  Hazel, 
looking  up. 

'  It  is  not  exactly  play,  Miss  Kennedy  ! ' — 

But  the  soft  laugh  that  answered  that,  no  one  could 
define. 

'  He  won't  find  it  play  by  and  by.    said  Mr  Falkirk. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


'nr^HIS  visit  and  talk  gave  Hazel  a  great  deal  to 
JL  ponder.  The  work,  and — the  doer  of  it  ;  and — did 
he  ever  think  of  her,  she  questioned,  in  the  doing  ?  And 
did  he  expect  to  make  her  '  stand,  as  he  had  the  bay '? 
and  come,  if  he  but '  snapped  his  fingers  '?  On  the  whole, 
Miss  Wych  did  not  feel  as  if  she  were  developing  any 
hidden  stores  of  docility  at  present ! — not  at  present ; 
and  one  or  two  new  questions,  or  old  ones  in  a  new 
shape,  began  to  fill  her  mind  ;  inserting  themselves  be- 
tween the  leaves  of  her  Schiller,  peeping  cunningly  out 
from  behind  '  reason'  and  '  instinct '  and  '  the  wings  of 
birds' ;  dancing  and  glimmering  and  hiding  in  the  fire- 
light. Mr.  Falkirk  might  have  noticed,  about  this  time, 
that  Miss  Wych  was  never  ready  to  have  the  gas  lit. 

The  gas  was  lit,  however,  and  the  tea-tray  just  brought 
in,  when  one  evening  a  few  nights  after  the  visit  last  re- 
corded, Rollo  himself  was  announced.  Notwithstanding 
all  Mrs.  Coles  had  prognosticated,  he  seemed  very  much 
like  himself  both  in  face  and  manner  ;  he  came  in  and 
talked  and  took  his  place  at  the  table,  just  as  he  had 
been  used  to  do  at  Chickaree.  Not  even  more  grave 
than  he  had  often  been  there. 
33 


514  WYCH    HAZEL. 

It  was  not  the  first  time  Wych  Hazel  had  confessed 
to  herself  that  tea  trays  are  a  great  institution  ;  nor  the 
first  time  she  had  found  shelter  behind  her  occupation. 
Very  demurely  she  poured  out  the  tea,  and  listened 
sedately  to  the  talk  between  the  gentlemen  ;  but  it  was 
with  extra  gravity  that  she  at  last  put  her  fingers  in. 
She  never  could  guess  afterwards  how  she  had  dared. 

'  Do  you  think  he  looks  much  like  a  ruined  man,  Mr. 
Falkirk  ? '  she  said,  in  one  of  the  pauses  of  their  talk. 

A  flash  of  lightning  quickness  and  brightness  came 
to  her  from  Rollo's  eyes.  Mr.  Falkirk  lifted  his  dumbly^ 
not  knowing  how  to  take  the  girl.  He  had  not,  so  far 
in  the  talk,  touched  the  subject  of  Mrs.  Coles'  commu- 
nications, though  no  doubt  they  had  not  been  out  of  his 
mind  for  one  instant.  But  somehow,  Mr.  Falkirk  had 
lacked  inclination  to  call  his  younger  coadjutor  to  account, 
and  probably  was  hopeless  of  effecting  any  supposable 
good  by  so  doing.  Now  he  stared  wonderingly  up  at 
Wych  Hazel.  She  was  looking  straight  at  him,  awaiting 
an  answer ;  but  fully  alive  to  the  situation,  and  a  little 
bit  frightened  thereat,  and  with  the  fun  and  the  confusion 
both  getting  into  her  face  in  an  irroeistible  way.  Mr. 
Falkirk's  face  went  down  again  with  a  grunt,  or  a  growl ; 
it  was  rather  dubious  in  intent.  Rollo's  eyes  did  not 
waver  from  their  inquisition  of  Wych  Hazel's  face.  It 
was  getting  to  be  hot  work  ! — Hazel  touched  her  hand 
bell,  and  turned  away  to  give  orders,  and  came  back 
to  her  business  ;  sending  Mr.  Falkirk  a  cup  of  tea  that 
was  simply  scalding.  Her  bravery  was  done  for  that  time. 

'What  have  you  been  doing  this  winter?'  Mr.  Falkirk 
finally  concluded  to  ask. 

'  Investing  in  new  stock,'  Rollo  answered  carelessly. 

'  Don't  pay,  does  it  ? ' 


A    LESSON.  515 

'  I  think  it  will.  Money  is  worth  what  you  can  get 
out  of  it,  you  know. ' 

'  Pray,  if  I  may  ask,  what  do  you  expect  to  get  out  of 
it,  in  this  way  ? ' 

'  Large  returns  ' — said  Rollo  very  calmly. 

'  I  don't  see  it,'  said  Mr.  Falkirk.  '  I  hope  you  do ; 
but  I  can't.' 

'  You  have  not  the  elements  to  make  a  perfect  calcula- 
tion.' 

Rollo,  it  was  plain,  understood  himself,  and  was  in  no 
confusion  on  the  subject.  Mr.  Falkirk,  either  in  uncer- 
tainty or  in  disgust,  declined  to  pursue  it.  He  finished 
his  tea,  and  then,  perhaps,  feeling  that  he  had  no  right 
to  keep  watch  over  his  brother  guardian,  much  to  Wych 
Hazel's  discomfiture,  he  took  up  his  book  and  march- 
ed away. 

Rollo  left  the  table  and  came  round  then  to  a  seat  by 
her  side. 

'What  have  you  been  doing  this  winter  ?' he  asked, 
putting  the  question  with  his  eyes  as  well  as  with  his 
words. 

'  Making  old  stock  pay,' — said  the  girl,  looking  down 
at  her  folded  hands  ;  she  was  not  of  the  calm  sisterhood 
who  hide  themselves  in  crochet. 

'  Perhaps  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  enlarge  upon 
that.' 

Hazel  sent  back  the  first  answer  that  came  to  her 
tongue,  and  the  next :  it  was  no  part  of  her  plan  to  have 
herself  in  the  foreground. 

'  This  is  a  fair  average  specimen  .of  our  tea-drinkings,' 
she  said.  '  And  the  mornings  are  hardly  more  event- 
ful. Just  lately,  Mr  Falkirk  has  been  a  good  deal  dis- 
turbed about  you.  Or  else  he  was  easy  about  you,  and 


516  WYCH    HAZEL. 

disturbed  about  your  doings, — he  has  such  a  confused 
way  of  putting  things.  But  we  heard  you  had  copied  my 
"  hurricane  track,"  '  said  Miss  Wych,  folding  her  hands 
in  a  new  position. 

'  And  were  you  disturbed  about  my  doings  ? ' 

'  I  ?  O  no.  I  am  never  disturbed  with  what  you  do 
to  anybody  but  me.' 

Rollo  did  not  choose  to  pursue  that  subject.  He 
plunged  into  another, 

'  I  should  like  to  explain  to  you  some  of  my  doings  ; 
and  I  must  go  a  roundabout  way  to  do  it.  Miss  Hazel, 
do  you  read  the  Bible  much  ? ' 

'  Much  ? '  she  said  with  a  sudden  look  up.  '  What  do 
you  call  "  much  ? "  ' 

He  smiled  at  her.  'Are  you  in  the  habit  of  studying 
it?' 

'  As  I  study  other  things  I  do  not  know  ? — Not  often. 
Sometimes,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  thinking  how  often  she 
had  gone  over  that  same  ninety-first  Psalm. 

'  What  is  your  notion  of  religion  ? — as  to  what  it 
means  ? ' 

She  glanced  up  at  him  again,  almost  wondering  for 
a  moment  if  his  wits  were  '  touched.'  Then  seeing  his 
eyes  were  undoubtedly  sane  and  grave,  set  her  own  wits 
to  work. 

'  It  means,'  she  answered  slowly  after  a  pause,  '  to 
me,  different  things  in  different  people.  All  sorts  of 
contradictions,  I  believe  ! — In  mamma,  as  they  tell  of 
her,  it  meant  everything  beautiful,  and  loving,  and  love- 
able,  and  tender.  And  it  puts  Dr.  Maryland  away  off 
— up  in  the  sky,  I  think.  And  "it  just  blinds  Prim,  so 
that  she  cannot  comprehend  common  mortals.  And  it 
seems  to  open  Gyda's  eyes,  so  that  she  does  under 


A    LESSON.  517 

stand — like   mamma.      And — I   do   not  know  what   it 
means  in  you,  Mr.  Rollo  ! ' 

'  You  never  saw  it  in  me.' 

'  No.' 

Let  me  give  you  a  lesson  to  study,'  said  he.  '  Some- 
thing I  have  been  studying  lately  a  good  deal.  I  must 
take  this  minute  before  we  are  interrupted.  Have  you 
got  a  Bible  here  ? ' 

She  sprang  up  and  brought  her  own  from  the  next 
room,  with  a  certain  quick  way  if  she  were  excited  ;  Rollo 
took  it  and  turned  over  the  leaves,  then  placed  it  before 
her  open. 

'  I  have  heard  you  read  the  Bible  once.  Read  now 
those  two  verses.' 

"  For  the  love  of  Christ  constrained!  us  ;  because 
we  thus  judge,  that  if  one  died  for  all,  then  were  all 
dead :  and  that  he  died  for  all,  that  they  which  live 
should  not  henceforth  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto 
him  which  died  for  them,  and  rose  again." — 2  Cor.  v. 

14,  15- 

Wych  Hazel  read  the  words  slowly,  softly, — then  look- 
up at  him  again. 

'  Is  that  what  it  means  in  you  ? '  she  said. 

'  What  do  the  words  imply,  for  anybody  ? '  he  said, 
with  his  eyes  going  down  into  hers  as  they  did  sometimes, 
like  as  if  they  would  get  at  the  yet  unspoken  thoughts. 
But  hers  fell  again  to  the  book. 

'  I  suppose,  they  should  mean — what  they  say,'  she 
answered  in  the  same  slow  fashion.  '  But  what  that  is, 
— or  at  least  would  be, — I  do  not  very  well  know,' 

'  If  One  died  for  me, — if  it  is  because  of  his  love  and 
and  death  for  me  that  I  live  at  all, — to  whom  do  I 
properly  belong  ?  myself,  or  him  ? 


518  WYCH    HAZEL. 

'  Well,  and  then  ?'  she  said,  passing  the  question  as 
answered. 

'  Then  a  good  many  things,'  he  said,  smiling  again. 
'  Suppose  that  he,  to  whom  I  belong,  has  work  that  he 
wants  done, — suppose  there  are  people  he  wants  taken 
care  of  and  helped, — if  I  love  him  and  if  I  belong  to  him, 
what  shall  I  like  to  do  ? ' 

'  What  you  are  doing,  1  suppose,'  said  Hazel,  with  a 
little  undefined  twinge  that  came  much  nearer  jealousy 
than  she  guessed. 

'  That  is  very  plain,  and  perfectly  simple,  isn't  it  ? ' 

'  [t  sounds  so.' — And  glancing  furtively  at  the  bright, 
clear  face,  she  added  to  herself  Dr.  Maryland's  old 
words  :  '  Love  likes  her  bonds  ! ' — That  was  plain  too. 

'Then  another  question.  If  /  belong  to  this  One 
whom  I  love,  does  not  all  that  I  have  belong  to  him 
too?' 

'  But  it  was  not  /who  said  you  were  ruining  yourself,' 
said  the  girl  in  her  quick  way.  '  I  liked  it.' 

'  Did  you .' '  said  he,  with  one  of  his  flashes  of  eye. 
'  But  I  am  giving  you  a  lesson  to  study.  I  am  not 
justifying  myself.  Answer  my  question.  Does  not  all 
I  have  belong  to  that  One,  who  loves  me  and  whom  I 
love  ? ' 

She  bowed  her  head  in  assent.  Somehow  the  words 
hurt  her. 

'  So  that,  whatever  I  do,  I  cannot  be  said  to  give  him 
anything?  It  is  all  his  already.  I  am  asking  you  a 
business  question.  I  want  you  to  answer  just  as  it  ap- 
pears to  you. ' 

'  How  can  it  appear  but  in  one  way?  said  Hazel. 
'  That  must  be  true,  of  course.' 

'  Very  well.     That  is  clear.     Now  suppose  further, 


A    LESSON.  519 

that  my  Lord  has  left  me  special  directions  about  what 
he  wants  done  to  these  people  I  spoke  of— am  I  not 
to  take  the  directions  exactly  as  they  stand,  without 
clipping  ? ' 

'  Yes.' 

He  put  his  hand  upon  the  book  which  lay  before  her, 
and  turned  back  the  leaves  to  the  third  chapter  of  Luke  ; 
there  indicated  a  verse  and  bade  her  read  again. 

"  He  that  hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart  to  him  that 
hath  none." ' 

'  What  does  that  mean  ? '  asked  Rollo. 

'  What  it  says — if  it  means  anything,  I  suppose.' 

Again  Rollo  put  his  hand  upon  the  leaves,  turning 
further  back  still  till  he  reached  the  book  of  Isaiah,  And 
then  he  gave  Wych  Hazel  these  words  to  read  : 

'  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen  ?  to  loose  the 
bands  of  wickedness,  to  undo  the  heavy  burdens,  and  to 
let  the  oppressed  go  free,  and  that  ye  break  every  yoke  ? 
Is  it  not  to  deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that  thou 
bring  the  poor  that  are  cast  out  to  thine  house  ?  when 
thou  seest  the  naked,  that  thou  cover  him  ;  and  that 
thou  hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh  ? ' 

'  How  are  these  commands  to  be  met  ? '  Rollo  asked 
gravely  when  she  had  clone. 

'  Why,  you  have  found  out !  '  said  Hazel.  '  I  knew 
you  would  go  off  on  a  crusade  after  that  October  sky, 
Mr.  Rollo.' 

He  seemed  half  to  forget  his  subject,  or  to  merge  it, 
in  a  deep,  thoughtful  gaze  at  her  for  a  few  moments,  over 
which  a  smile  gradually  broke. 

'  To  come  back  to  our  lesson/  he  said, — '  are  not  these 
commands  to  be  taken  an  pied  de  la  lettre  ?  ' 

'  They    can    hardly    be    the  one  exception    among 


520  WYCH    HAZEL. 

commands,  I  should  think,' — with  a  little  arch  of  her 
eyebrows. 

'  Then  I  am  bound,  am  I  not,  to  undo  every  heavy 
burden  that  I  can  reach  ?  to  loose  every  bond  of  wicked- 
ness, and  to  break  every  yoke,  and  to  remove  oppression, 
in  so  far  as  it  lies  with  me  to  do  it  ?  Do  you  hot  think 
so?' 

'  Why,  yes  ! '  said  Wych  Hazel.  '  Does  anybody  like 
oppression  ? ' 

'  Does  anybody  practise  it  ? ' 

'  I  do  not  know,  Mr.  Rollo.  O  yes,  of  course,  in  some 
parts  of  the  world.  But  I  mean  here.  Yes, — those 
people  used  to  look  as  if  something  kept  them  down, — 
and  I  used  to  think  Mr.  Morton  might  help  it,  I  remem- 
ber.' 

'  You  are  not  to  suppose  that  oppression  is  liked  for 
its  own  sake.  That  is  rarely  the  case,  even  in  this 
world.  It  is  for  the  sake  of  what  it  will  bring,  like  other 
wrong  things.  But  a  question  more.  Can  I  do  all  I  can, 
without  giving  and  using  all  I  have  for  it  ? ' 

'  That  is  self-evident.' 

'  Then  it  only  remains,  how  to  use  what  I  have  to  the 
best  advantage.' 

'  Well,  even  Mr.  Falkirk  admits  you  are  a  good  busi- 
ness man,'  said  Hazel,  laughing  a  little. 

'  How  are  you  for  a  business  woman  ?' 

'  Nobody  has  ever  found  out.  Of  course  I  consider 
myself  capable  of  anything.  But  then  business  never 
does  come  into  my  hands,  you  know.' 

'This  business  does.' 

'Does  it?  the  business  of  caring  for  other  people  ? — 
Last  summer  Dr.  Maryland  read  a  terrible  text  about 
the  "tears  of  the  oppressed,  and  they  had  no  comfort- 


A   LESSON.  521 

er."  It  haunted  me  for  a  while.  But  I  could  do  no- 
thing. No, — one  must  have  more  right  of  way  than  I 
have — yet.' 

'  I  do  not  mean  the  business  simply  of  caring  for 
other  people.  I  mean  the  whole  course  of  action,  be- 
ginning from  those  first  words  you  read." 

'You  know,'  she  said  quietly,  'I  have  never  tried.' 

'Will  you  study  the  lesson  I  have  set  you?' 

'The  one  you  have  been  learning?' 

'  Yes.  The  one  contained  in  these  verses  you  have 
read.  Shall  I  do  harm  if  I  mark  this  book?' 

'  No.' — The  word  came  quick,  under  breath. 

He  turned  to  the  different  places  where  she  had  been 
reading,  and  carefully  marked  the  passages  ;  then 
sought  out  and  likewise  marked  several  others.  'Will 
you  study  the  lesson  out  ? '  he  asked  as  he  was  busy 
with  the  last  marking. 

'I  will  try — I  think,'  she  answered  slowly.  'As  well 
as  I  know  how.' 

'Do  not  fancy,'  he  said,  smiling  as  he  shut  the  book, 
'  that  the  care  of  the  needy,  in  any  shape,  is  religion  : 
nor  think  that  He  who  loves  us  will  take  anything  as  a 
substitute  for  our  whole-hearted  love  to  him.  If  we 
give  him  that,  he  will  let  us  know  in  what  way  we  may 
shew  it.' 

She  made  no  answer  except  by  another  swift  look. 
This  was  Chaldee  to  her  !  He  let  the  silence  last  a 
little  while. 

'  Now  I  have  asked  you  so  many  questions,'  he  said, 
'  I  should  like  it  if  you  would  ask  me  a  few.' 

'What  about?' 

'  All  subjects  are  open  to  you  ! ' 

'  How  did  you  contrive  to  make  the  bay  "  stand  "  ?' 


522  WYCH    HAZEL. 

The  flash  of  Rollo's  eye  came  first. 

'  How  do  you  know  I  did  ? '  he  said  laughing.  '  But 
that  is  no  answer.  Let  me  see.  I  believe,  first  I  made 
him  know  that  he  must  mind  me  ;  and  secondly,  I  per- 
suaded him  into  loving  me.  All  that  remained,  was  to 
let  him  understand  that  I  wanted  him  to  be  immovable 
when  I  was  not  on  his  back.' 

'  O,  but ! — '  said  Hazel  hastily, — the  sentence  ending 
in  crimson  cheeks,  and  the  shyest  veil  of  reserve  drop- 
ped over  her  face. 

'  I  might  question  here,'  said  Rollo  in  an  amused 
tone,  and  eyeing  her  inquisitively  ;  '  but  I  have  done 
it  so  often, — I  leave  the  ground  to  you.  What  next  ?' 

'What  next'  seemed  to  have  flown  away. 

'  Does  Collingwood  engross  all  the  thoughts  that  go 
back  to  Chickaree  ? ' 

A  sidelong  glance  of  the  brown  eyes  was  all  that  Mr. 
Rollo  got  by  that  venture. 

'  How  is  Triidchen  ? '  she  asked  gravely. 

'  Flourishing.  Asks  after  you  whenever  she  gets  a 
chance.' 

'  Mrs.  Boerresen  of  course  is  well,  as  she  has  had  you 
to  look  after  ? ' 

'  Gyda  is  happy.  It  is  a  comfort  to  her  to  have  to 
make  fladbrod  for  two.' 

'  It  must  be  a  comfort  to  you  to  eat  it ! — How  is  poor 
Mr.  Morton  ?  I  felt  for  him  when  I  heard  you  had 
turned  his  world  upside  down.' 

'  What  did  you  feel  for  him  ? '  said  Rollo  quite  in- 
nocently. 

'  You  have  asked  all  your  questions.  I  think  it  would 
be  proper  now,'  said  Wych  Hazel,  folding  her  hands 
and  controlling  the  curling  lips,  '  that  you  should  go  on 


A    LESSON. 


523 


and  tell  me  all  there  is  to  be  told,  and  save  me  the 
trouble  of  asking  any  more.' 

'  I  do  not  wish  to  save  you  the  trouble.' 

'It  is  good  practice  occasionally  to  do  what  you  do 
not  wish.  Instructive.  And  full  of  suggestion.' 

'  Suggestion  of  what  ?  ' 

'  Try,  and  you  will  know.  I  doubt  if  you  ever  did 
try,'  said  Wych  Hazel. 

1 1  tried  it  last  night  and  yesterday  morning,  when  I 
was  turned  away  from  your  door  with  the  announcement 
that  you  were  out.' 

'But  you  did  not  leave  your  name!'  said  Hazel, 
looking  up. 

'  I  found  it  "  suggestive  "  too,'  Rollo  went  on.  '  I  do 
not  know  whether  you  would  like  me  to  tell  you  all  the 
things  which  it  suggested.' 

'  How  is  everybody  else  at  home  ? '  said  Hazel, 
changing  her  ground.  '  I  heard  Miss  May  had  been 
sick.' 

The  answer  tarried,  for  Mr.  Falkirk  came  in,  and 
perhaps  Rollo  forgot  it,  or  knew  that  Wych  Hazel  had  ; 
for  it  was  never  given.  He  entered  into  talk  with  Mr. 
Falkirk  ;  and  did  his  part  well  through  the  rest  of  the 
evening.  Then,  Mr.  Falkirk  expressing  the  surmise,  it 
was  hardly  put  in  the  form  of  a  hope,  that  they  would 
see  him  to  breakfast  or  dinner,  Rollo  averred  that  he  was 
going  immediately  home.  He  had  done  his  work  in 
town,  and  could  not  tarry.  No  remark  from  the  lady 
of  the  house  met  that.  Indeed  she  had  been  sitting  in 
the  silentest  of  moods,  letting  the  gentlemen  talk  ;  hav- 
ing enough  to  think  of  and  observe.  For  absence  does 
change,  even  an  intimate  friend,  and  both  lifts  and.drops 
a  veil.  Old  characteristics  stand  out  with  new  clear- 


524  WYCH    HAZEL. 

ness  ;  old  graces  of  mind  or  manner  strike  one  afresh  ; 
but  the  old  familiarity  which  once  in  a  sort  took  posses- 
sion of  all  this,  is  now  withdrawn  a  little, — we  stand  off 
and  look.  And  so,  secretly,  modestly,  shyly,  Wych 
Hazel  studied  her  young  guardian  that  night.  But 
when  he  had  risen  to  go,  the  faintest  little  touch  fron. 
one  of  her  finger  tips  drew  him  a  step  aside. 

'  I  said  I  would  study  that,'  she  began.  '  But  it  seems 
to  me  you  explained  it  all  as  you  went  along.  What  is 
there  left  to  study  ? ' 

The  grave  penetrating  eyes  she  met  and  had  to  meet 
once,  gave  all  the  needed  force  to  his  answer. — '  Your 
part,  Miss  Hazel.'  He  stood  looking  at  her  a  minute  ; 
and  then  he  went  away. 

If  when  Rollo  had  entered  the  room  where  she  was, 
that  evening,  the  instant  feeling  had  been  that  he  must 
come  often :  perhaps  the  after  feeling  was  that  he  could 
not  stand  much  of  this  doubtful  and  neutral  intercourse. 
For  he  did  as  he  had  promised  ;  left  her,  practically,  to 
Mr.  Falkirk,  and  came  not  to  town  again  during  all  the 
rest  of  that  winter. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 


IT  seemed  to  Hazel,  that  in  these  days  there  was 
no  end  to  the  thinking  she  had  to  do  ;  and  if  Mr. 
Rollo  had  only  known,  she  remarked  to  herself,  he 
need  not  have  been  at  the  trouble  to  point  out  new 
lines  of  study.  The  mere  sight  of  him  for  two  hours 
had  put  her  head  in  a  tangle  that  it  would  take  her 
a  month  to  clear  away.  Some  of  the  questions  in- 
deed had  started  up  under  the  conversation  of  Mrs. 
Coles  ;  but  with  them  now  came  others,  all  wrapped 
round  and  twisted  in ;  and  instead  of  dreamily  watch- 
ing the  fire  in  her  twilight  musings,  she  began  now 
to  spend  them  with  her  cheek  on  her  book,  or  her 
head  dropped  on  her  hands,  an  impatient  little  sigh 
now  and  then  bearing  witness  to  the  depth  of  the  diffi- 
culties in  which  she  was  plunged.  What  was  fore- 
most among  the  subjects  of  her  musings  ? — perhaps 
this  strange  new  talk  of  Mr.  Rollo's,  with  the  whole 
new  world  of  work  and  interest  and  consecration 
which  had  opened  before  him.  It  made  her  sober, 
— it  brought  back  the  old  lonely  feelings  which  of  late 
(since  she  knew  herself  to  belong  to  somebody '  in  idea') 
had  somewhat  passed  out  of  sight.  He  was  beginning  a 
new,  glad  life  ;  growing  wiser  and  better  than  she  j 
making  himself  a  blessing,  whereas  she  was  only  a  care. 


526  WYCH    HAZEL. 

What  could  she  do  for  him  any  more  ? — would  he  even 
want  her  any  more  ?  given  up  now  to  these  new  ways  of 
which  she  knew  nothing,  and  in  which  somebody  else 
might  suit  him  better — -say  Primrose  ?  But  at  that, 
Miss  Wych  started  up  and  stirred  the  fire  energetically* 
and  then  came  back  to  her  musings. 

What  did  she  care,  anyhow  ?  She  passed  that  ques- 
tion, turned  it  round,  and  took  it  up  in  another  shape- 
How  would  she  bear  to  be  all  her  life  under  orders  ?  in 
'  closer  '  guardianship  ? — and  there  the  word  '  sweeter  ' 
flashed  in,  confusingly.  But  that  was  not  business. 
Did  she — that  is,  could  she — like  him  well  enough  to 
like  to  give  up  her  own  way  ?  Answer,  a  prompt  nega- 
tive. Never  ! — Not  if  she  liked  him  ten  times  more 
than — but  it  is  awkward  dealing  with  unknown  quanti- 
ties :  Hazel  sheered  off.  Suppose  she  didn't  like  it — 
could  she  do  it  ?  do  it  so  that  he  would  never  find  out 
what  it  cost  her  ?  do  it  to  give  him  pleasure  ?  do  it 
because  it  was  his  right  ?  Waiving  her  own  pleasure, 
pushing  aside  her  own  will  ?  Could  she  do  it  ? — Well, 
there  was  not  the  least  hope  that  she  would  wish  to  do 
it.  She  should  always  like  her  own  best :  no  doubt  of 
that. 

Then  could  she  (perhaps)  learn  such  trust  in  his  judg- 
ment, as  would  turn  her  own  will  round  ? — As  hopeless 
as  the  other.  Sometimes,  of  course,  he  might  be  right, 
— by  a  great  stretch  of  leniency  Miss  Wych  allowed  so 
far, — sometimes,  it  was  certain,  she  would.  Well : 
could  she  give  his  judgment  as  well- as  his  will  the  right 
of  way  ?  For  unless  she  could,  Wych  Hazel  felt  quite 
sure  of  one  thing  :  she  should  never  be  happy  a  minute 
in  such  guardianship.  She  had  not  dared  to  give  herself 
a  possible  reason  for  liking  it  in  the  old  times, — could 


STUDY.  527 

she  do  it,  now  that  she  dared  ?  Was  she  willing  to  give 
up,  sometimes  or  always,  to  just  that  one  person  in  all 
the  world  ? — turning  her  bonds  into  bracelets,  and  wear- 
ing them  royally  ?  And  there  her  thoughts  went  down 
to  the  real  bracelet  on  her  arm,  and  its  motto,  so  sud- 
denly became  his  : 

'  In  hope  of  eternal  life.' — Would  he  care  for  her  any 
more  ? 

O  how  thoughts  tired  themselves,  toiling  round  these 
points  !  and  slowly  uprising  from  them  came  yet  another, 
which  filled  the  air.  What  was  she  to  say  at  the  year's 
end  ? — or,  if  this  were  the  year's  end,  what  would  she  say 
now? — supposing  Mr.  Rollo  still  cared  what  she  said. 
But  that  last  question  must  be  studied  by  and  by.  Mr. 
Rollo  would  have  been  amused,  may  be,  and  may  be  a 
'ittle  touched,  if  he  had  known  the  ogre-like  shapes  in 
vhich  the  girl  conjured  him  up,  just  to  see  if  she  could 
endure  him  so :  putting  herself  to  superhuman  tests. 
But  her  imagination  played  tricks,  after  all  :  for  every 
Afrite  came  up  with  a  face  and  voice  before  which  she 
yielded,  perforce  ;  and  even  her  favourite  scene  of  stand- 
ing still  as  the  bay  and  having  him  snap  his  fingers  for 
her,  ended  one  day  in  a  laugh,  as  she  thought  what  she 
would  say  if  he  ever  did.  Then  finding  she  had  got 
very  far  beyond  limits,  Hazel  coloured  furiously  and  ran 
away  from  her  thoughts.  But  they  hindered  her  new 
study,  and  interrupted  it;  and  the  study  brought  up  the 
new  pain  ;  only  slowly  through  it  all,  one  thing  gradually 
grew  clear,  helped  on  by  the  pain  perhaps  as  much  as 
anything  :  she  would  rather  belong  to  somebody  than 
not — if  somebody  wanted  her  !  And  there  was  only  one 
somebody  in  the  world,  of  whom  that  was  true. 

Whereupon,  with   characteristic   waywardness,   Miss 


528  WYCH    HAZEL. 

Wych  at  once  gave  up  her  recluse  life ;  accepted  invita- 
tions, and  pulled  Mr.  Falkirk  into  a  round  of  outdoor 
gaiety  that  nearly  turned  his  head.  Trying,  perhaps,  to 
test  her  discoveries,  or  to  get  rid  of  her  thoughts  ;  or  to 
prove  to  herself  conclusively  that  she  did  not  wish  for 
any  more  visits  from  Chickaree. 

And  so  Wych  Hazel  knew  her  own  secret. 


THE   END. 


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